There is, hidden within the passage from Mark 7:31-37 , a powerful one-word command from Jesus. In fact, it is the one and only word he spoke in this event of healing a deaf man who was also mute. We see what Jesus accomplished in verses 33-35 , “After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “ Ephphatha !” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.” Jesus spoke in his native language, which was Aramaic, a word that meant “be opened.” Jesus uses this word to heal a man who could not hear nor communicate. Ephphatha (ef-fah-thah). Jesus commands the man’s ears to open and his tongue to loosen. The man can now hear and speak because of Jesus! May we, too, receive the gift of Ephphatha? This gift that we can receive w...
Clever, Missouri (Christian County)