Word for the day by Christian Education Forum


Healing through Christ

“He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (v. 37).
The Gospel of St. Mark has a confessional agenda to establish the fact that Jesus is Son of God. This healing narration is unique to Mark’s Gospel. Healing plays significant role in Jesus ministry and are all signs the arrival of the Messianic age. This episode comes at the conclusion of a southwestward itinerary symbolically embraces all the Gentile territory surrounding Galilee. This is a best example of the compassionate mission of Jesus.
Jesus identified with the disabled person: - Jesus was crossing the geographical and racial boundaries which extend far beyond the socio- political boundaries of Judaism with a purpose to heal the creation. On such a journey the people brought this man to Jesus and begged Jesus to place His hand on him. But Jesus took him aside from the crowd and spent time to interact with the person. Jesus put His fingers into his ears, touched him and healed him. Jesus touched the man’s impaired organs to establish contact for healing. Jesus was touching the core problem of the person. V.34 introduces two gestures that combine “looking to heaven” and “sighing”. Jesus ‘sighed’ because he identified so closely and intimately with this man and his pathetic situation. It’s a sign of deep distress that lead to prayer that apparently provides healing. Through healing Jesus restored his abilities. Healing is affirming the life in its fullness, to celebrate it creatively.
He has done everything well: - After witnessing this miracle the people were utterly astonished and saying “he has done everything well” (V.37). This may be associated with the judgment on creation expressed in the book of Genesis (Gen. 1:31). The deeds of Jesus, like the works of God in creation, are all done well. The words and works of Jesus are not just testimonies of His charisma or skills at magic, rather they are the signs that a new world of plentitude and blessings, is miraculously springing into existence through Him. This declares the fact that Jesus’ work is attributed to God that reflects the restoration of fallen creation. Instead of being a divine miracle worker, Jesus’ healing represents God’s work of doing “all things well”. It was the messianic age that was in motion. He healed wholly and opened his ears, released his tongue and he spoke plainly. Jesus came to heal us when he heals, he heals us wholly.
The hearing and speech have a symbolic role to play in Mark’s narrative. Jesus can make even Gentiles “hear” and “speak”. Yet we will soon see that his own disciples remain ‘deaf and mute’ in understanding their Master (8:18).  Jesus disciples have shown increasing difficulty in understanding the ministry of Jesus. They clearly need some form of healing that will enable them to truly hear.  

 Prayer: - Lord you have done all things well, heal our body and mind so that we can open our eyes to see the beauty of your salvation, open our mouth to proclaim the glory of your redemption. Amen.

Rev. A. B. Binu, Long Island MTC. NY.


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