Jesus Meets Needs

KEY VERSE: “They were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” —Mark—7:37

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:24-37

FOLLOWING JESUS’ UNHAPPY visit to Nazareth, he continued his ministry in Galilee. He sent his disciples out in pairs to preach, to teach, and to heal. While the crowds were eager to hear him, the Pharisees were becoming more and more openly hostile.

Jesus then withdrew from Jewish territory into the Gentile area of Tyre and Sidon. He did this even though for three-and-one-half years after his death God’s favor belonged to the Jews only. The Syrophoenician woman of our study was a Greek—not a Jewess. The Jews claimed to be God’s people, and they styled the Gentiles “dogs” (vs. 27), not worthy of having a relationship with God. This woman had a daughter possessed of an evil spirit, and hearing that Jesus was near her home she sought him out, entreating him to cast out the demon.

Even though not a Jew, she understood Jesus’ most unusual reply, “Let the children first be filled, for it is not proper to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.” Grasping the significance of Jesus’ words, she replied: “Yes, Lord: yet the [little] dogs [or, a pet puppy] under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.” (vs. 28, Weymouth) She was one of those little dogs. She inquired if she might not have the crumb of comfort she craved—the healing of her daughter? Jesus replied, “For this saying, go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.” (vs. 29) Her faith prevailed, and she received the crumb she sought!

After this, Jesus returned to the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee where a deaf and dumb man was brought to him. Jesus was asked to lay his hand on the man. Jesus privately took him aside from the multitude. He put his fingers into his ears and spat, and touched his tongue. While performing the healing, Jesus looked up to heaven, indicating that the power to cure came from God. Jesus said, “Ephphatha,” or, “Be opened.” The man’s deaf ears and dumb lips were opened immediately!—Mark 7:31-37

The people said, “He hath done all things well; he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak,” but not just because of this one miracle. He had already healed many people upon numerous occasions. But let us not lose sight of the great central thought connected with these miracles of our Lord. His true mission was not to perform miracles, but to give his life a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.—I Tim. 2:5,6

Paul explained the result of Jesus’ sacrificing his life as a ransom for all mankind, saying, in I Corinthians 15:21,22: “Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” We see the importance of Jesus’ death in the plan of God. Because of his having paid the price of release, all in the grave shall come forth. “The Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings.” (Mal. 4:2) At that time, the Great Physicians’ touch will bring healing which endures. It will completely do away with death, the ‘ cause of so much sorrow, sadness, and tears, in this present age.

Jesus’ miracles and cures were really illustrations, on a very small scale, of the great work which he will accomplish during the thousand years of his kingdom reign. At that time, all “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of [all] the deaf shall be unstopped. … And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”—Isa. 35:5,10

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