Healing a Deaf Man (Mark 7:31-35)
Mogilalos, the Greek term used to describe the deaf man's condition, appears only one other place in the Bible: Isaiah 35:5–6. Isaiah 35 follows a series of oracles in which the prophet proclaims judgment against nations and cities including Tyre (chap. 23), Jerusalem (chap. 28), and Edom (chap. 34). After the destruction of these lands, Isaiah 35 explains, there will be a great restoration accompanied by everlasting holiness and joy. Among the wonders to occur are the healing of the deaf and mute, those who suffered the condition of mogilalos (vv. 5–6). By healing the deaf and mute man, Jesus proved that the era of restoration had come, salvation was at hand, and that God would be restoring all things through His Son.
To heal the man, Jesus placed His fingers in the man's ears and His spittle on the man's tongue (Mark 7:33–35). Many have wondered why He did such things in healing the man.
Coram Deo
The Gospels do not always give all the reasons why Jesus acted in the way that He did, but we do not need to know all of that information in order to trust Christ. It is enough for us to know that He is the Son of God incarnate and that even when He does things that seem perplexing, His wisdom governs all. We can trust Him even when He does things that we do not understand.
This article was first published in Tabletalk, the Bible study magazine of Ligonier Ministries. Find out more at TabletalkMagazine.com or try it free for three months today at TryTabletalk.com.
Sounds good. Time Duration Calculator