Jesus Heals the Deaf and Mute and Reveals the Compassion of God
In Mark Chapter 7:31-37, Jesus travels through the region of Decapolis near the Sea of Galilee. The crowds bring Him a man who is deaf and has difficulty speaking.
Jesus takes the man aside, touches his ears and tongue, looks toward heaven, and speaks one powerful word:
“Ephphatha”—“Be opened.”
Immediately the man’s ears are opened, his speech is restored, and he begins speaking plainly.
The people respond with astonishment:
“He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” — Mark 7:37
Jesus Heals the Multitudes
Matthew gives us additional details about this period of Jesus’ ministry.
Matthew 15:29-31 describes great multitudes bringing the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others to Jesus.
They laid them at His feet, and Jesus healed them.
The people witnessed:
- The mute speaking
- The maimed made whole
- The lame walking
- The blind seeing
And the people glorified the God of Israel.
Why Were People Astonished at Jesus?
Throughout the Gospel of Mark, people repeatedly respond to Jesus with amazement and astonishment.
They were astonished by His teaching.
They were astonished by His authority.
They were astonished by His power over demons.
They were astonished by His ability to forgive sins.
They were astonished by His authority over creation.
And now they are astonished because He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.
Jesus Has Authority Over Demons
Mark 1:25-27
When Jesus commanded an unclean spirit to leave a man, the people were amazed and asked:
“What new doctrine is this? For with authority, He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
Jesus demonstrated authority unlike anyone they had ever encountered.
Jesus Has Authority to Forgive Sin
Mark 2:11-12
Jesus told the paralytic:
“Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
The man immediately stood up and walked.
The crowd responded:
“We never saw anything like this!”
The healing demonstrated something even greater: the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins.
Jesus Has Authority Over Creation
Mark 4:38-41
When a violent storm threatened the disciples, Jesus spoke:
“Peace, be still!”
The wind stopped and the sea became calm.
The disciples asked:
“Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
That question is at the heart of the Gospel of Mark:
Who is Jesus?
Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
The miracles of Jesus were not simply spectacular displays of supernatural power.
They revealed His identity.
Jesus asks every generation the same essential question:
Who do you say that I am?
The evidence throughout Mark continually points toward one conclusion:
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
“He Has Done All Things Well”
Mark 7:37
The people declared:
“He has done all things well.”
The Greek word translated “well” is kalos, which can carry the meaning of beautifully, excellently, rightly, or well.
Jesus’ miracles demonstrate both His compassion for suffering people and His identity as the promised Messiah.
Jesus Fulfills the Prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah 35:4-6 foretold a time when God would come and save His people.
The prophecy declared that:
- The eyes of the blind would be opened
- The ears of the deaf would be unstopped
- The lame would leap
- The tongue of the mute would sing
Now consider what happens in Mark 7.
The deaf hear.
The mute speak.
The sick are healed.
Jesus is performing the very works Scripture associated with God’s promised salvation.
Isaiah 29 and the Signs of the Messiah
Isaiah 29:18-19 also declared that the deaf would hear and the blind would see.
The humble would increase their joy in the Lord.
The miracles of Jesus therefore serve as signs pointing beyond the miracle itself.
They answer the question:
Who is this Man?
The Compassion of God
Jesus did not heal merely to prove His authority.
He had compassion.
Psalm 146 describes the Lord as the One who gives food to the hungry, raises those who are bowed down, watches over strangers, and cares for the fatherless and widow.
The ministry of Jesus gives us a visible demonstration of the character and compassion of God.
God Is Not Far From Us
Sometimes we can imagine Jesus as being far away because He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
But Scripture teaches something remarkable:
God desires fellowship with His people.
Psalm 139 reminds us that there is nowhere we can go beyond God’s presence.
He knows our thoughts, our words, our paths, and even the days ordained for us.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Psalm 139:13-14
God formed us in the womb.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
The same God who created us desires that we know Him.
Seek God With All Your Heart
Jeremiah 29:12-13 reminds us:
When God’s people call upon Him, pray to Him, and seek Him with their whole heart, He promises that they will find Him.
God is not hiding from those who genuinely seek Him.
Obedience That Comes From Love
Does grace mean Christians should ignore God’s commandments?
Of course not.
But biblical obedience is different from religious legalism.
We do not obey God merely because someone is standing over us enforcing rules.
We obey because we love Him.
If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments
John 14:15-17
Jesus said:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
He then promised another Helper—the Holy Spirit—who would abide with believers forever.
Christian obedience flows from relationship.
We love Him because He first loved us.
God Makes His Home With His People
John 14:23
Jesus makes an extraordinary promise:
“We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
For the born-again believer, God is not merely someone we hope to encounter someday.
His Spirit dwells within us.
The Spirit Who Raised Jesus Dwells in You
Romans 8:10-11
The Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in believers.
The Christian life is therefore not simply following religious regulations.
It is life in Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Mystery of Christ
Ephesians 3 describes the incredible mystery revealed through Christ.
Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of God’s promise through the Gospel.
Through Jesus Christ we have:
- Access to God
- Boldness through faith
- The indwelling presence of Christ
- Strength through the Holy Spirit
- The immeasurable love of Christ
Rooted and Grounded in Love
Ephesians 3:17-19
Paul prays that Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith and that believers would be rooted and grounded in love.
He wants us to comprehend the width, length, depth, and height of Christ’s love.
God created us for fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Only Jesus Can Satisfy the Heart
People search for love.
They search for joy.
They search for peace.
They search for something that will satisfy the emptiness within.
But the deepest need of the human heart cannot ultimately be satisfied by this world.
We were created for fellowship with God.
Jesus Christ is the One who saves, restores, and reconciles us to Him.
Key Takeaways From Mark Chapter 7 Part 3
- Jesus has compassion for suffering people.
- Jesus has authority over sickness, demons, sin, and creation.
- The miracles of Jesus identify Him as the promised Messiah.
- Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would open deaf ears and cause the mute to speak.
- God desires fellowship with His people.
- Christian obedience flows from love rather than legalism.
- The Holy Spirit dwells within born-again believers.
- Only Jesus can ultimately satisfy the deepest need of the human heart.
Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
The people who witnessed Jesus asked questions about His identity.
His disciples asked:
“Who can this be?”
Others wondered:
“Could this be the Son of David?”
And today the question remains personal:
Who do you say Jesus is?
Can’t Make it to Church? Join us at 10:30 Live on Youtube