This passage, or miracle, is only found in the Gospel of Mark. We read this and can’t help but think of the recent study on the sheep and the shepherd, John 10:3 He calleth his own sheep. There we speak about the ears of God’s people, and the ears of God. Here’s the text (Mark 7:31-37)
31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Remember that these miracles are demonstrative of what Christ does for the sinner. The maladies that people are healed from are a picture of our spiritual condition. Christ can give us ears to hear His voice and tongue to speak into His ears; ears to hear the glorious things of God and likewise a tongue to tell them forth.
Now, when I read those words He hath done all things well, I can’t help but think He does do all things well, but I sure seem to mess things up; how I fall extremely short in the successful operation of these ears and tongue he’s made new for me. I cannot deny that he has begun a good work in me, but I admit my reluctance and failure to use these ears and tongue for his glory. Why?
I know I’m not alone. I believe it’s unbelief. Quite simply, I think people struggle believing that God has truly made that change inside themselves. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of personality. Some have such a twisted outlook on authority that in their heart it’s wrong and presumptuous to believe that God has favored them in such a manner, that he even would condescend to speaks to them, that he even would hear their voice. In their mind, they know God does, but in their heart they struggle. They find difficulty believing that He hath done all things well for them also. And then it’s a downward spiral. They recognize the unbelief in their heart and feel even more unworthy and even more a failure and even more undeserving of God’s attentions. It’s that law in our minds (Romans 7:25) trying to earn our way to heaven.
What seems like humility is truly pride. Humility will not hinder your relationship with Christ. Humility will not manifest itself as unbelief. Faith says He hath done all things well! Paul said (Romans 6:11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. That word likewise means in the same manner. The same manner as what? (Romans 6:10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. So let me do some backwards reckoning and this is thoroughly convicting. For us to not reckon our death and resurrection in Christ is to deny His. For us to not live unto God is to declare that Jesus Christ doesn’t. When you put it like that, it’s absurd; it’s ridiculous. Likewise, it’s just as absurd and ridiculous for God’s people to not reckon that He hath done all things well.
For some, Romans 6:11 is one of the hardest things to accomplish. But this verse comes to mind: (2 Peter 1:3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness… And also this verse (Romans 8:32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? And here’s another one (Romans 5:15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Oh yes, unbelief flies in the face of the scriptures! Unbelief does not come from reading your bible. That’s for sure.
Interestingly, it was not the deaf and mute one that said this. It was the multitude that saw it happen who declared He hath done all things well. May God receive all the glory. When people see the change in our life, the difference the Savior makes, I pray it be so that Jesus is given the credit and magnified. News of a deaf and dumb man was not published, but the news of a man that made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak was published. (John 4:29) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
I know we hardly scratched the surface of this miracle. But I did want to leave you with this great truth demonstrated in the passage: It’s perfectly okay to start a sentence with and.
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