Day 19 – Jesus draws out faith
Mark 7:24-36
Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 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 commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Liz Nixon writes:
In both these stories, Jesus is fulfilling prophecies and long-held beliefs of what the Messiah would be like. In the first story, he draws out the Gentile woman’s faith by reminding her that the Jewish Messiah comes first for the Jews, who will in turn be a light to the path that leads the rest of the nations to God. And then in the second story, Jesus heals a deaf and mute man, which is a fulfilment of prophecies in Isaiah. We see a Messiah who is willing to act and bring the much-needed healings and the people were overwhelmed with amazement?
What amazes you most about Jesus? When was the last time you were overwhelmed with amazement at Jesus? Take some time to ponder your history with Jesus, at His marvellous works.
Why not share your amazement with a friend to encourage them?