1 00:00:00,730 --> 00:00:04,130 Speaker 1: And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the 2 00:00:04,150 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: more He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 3 00:00:08,390 --> 00:00:15,260 Speaker 1: Mark 7.36 Heavenly Father, we are moved by the uncontrollable 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: urge to share Your greatness and goodness. Your works are 5 00:00:19,700 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: too wonderful, Your grace too boundless, and Your love too 6 00:00:24,579 --> 00:00:28,500 Speaker 1: deep for us to keep to ourselves. Like those who 7 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:33,260 Speaker 1: witnessed Jesus' miracles, our hearts overflow with the desire to 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,940 Speaker 1: sing your praises from the rooftops. Lord, grant us the 9 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen, 10 00:00:42,740 --> 00:00:46,300 Speaker 1: that our words may always honor you and edify others. 11 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,089 Speaker 1: Guide our tongues to share your love and truth in 12 00:00:51,150 --> 00:00:55,930 Speaker 1: ways that draw people closer to you, while also teaching 13 00:00:56,070 --> 00:01:02,590 Speaker 1: us the power of silent witness through our actions. Empower us, God, 14 00:01:02,650 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: to be the messengers of your hope and love, using 15 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: both our voices and our lives to proclaim the beauty 16 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:15,300 Speaker 1: of your holiness. In Jesus' name we pray. 17 00:01:16,860 --> 00:01:17,110 Speaker 2: Amen. 18 00:01:19,310 --> 00:01:22,949 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Welcome back to 19 00:01:22,970 --> 00:01:29,050 Speaker 1: the Jesus Podcast. Gospel-inspired stories created and crafted to entertain 20 00:01:29,750 --> 00:01:34,459 Speaker 1: and enliven your faith. Has the Jesus Podcast blessed you? 21 00:01:35,459 --> 00:01:38,620 Speaker 1: Has it given you hope? We would love it if 22 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,940 Speaker 1: you'd left us a review. Thanks for giving hope a voice. 23 00:01:45,500 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: Jesus and his companions walked the winding path leading to 24 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:54,500 Speaker 1: the Decapolis. Word about Jesus' teachings had created quite a stir. 25 00:01:55,670 --> 00:02:00,370 Speaker 1: Each disciple was afraid of what awaited them there. Would 26 00:02:00,410 --> 00:02:04,530 Speaker 1: it be a mob? An army? The entire region was 27 00:02:04,590 --> 00:02:10,230 Speaker 1: a smattering of Jews, Gentiles, Romans, and barbarians. They warred 28 00:02:10,290 --> 00:02:14,579 Speaker 1: with each other, clashing over matters of culture, creed, and religion. 29 00:02:15,620 --> 00:02:20,620 Speaker 1: Yet all of them had one thing in common. Curiosity. 30 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,340 Speaker 1: Word of Jesus' ministry had stretched beyond the borders of Judea, 31 00:02:27,260 --> 00:02:32,179 Speaker 1: intriguing people of all different backgrounds. Hope is known by 32 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:36,750 Speaker 1: one people's The hope of the gospel was accessible to 33 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:42,790 Speaker 1: anyone who would listen, regardless of their national loyalty. That 34 00:02:42,830 --> 00:02:47,269 Speaker 1: is why Jesus entered the Decapolis with excitement. He had 35 00:02:47,310 --> 00:02:50,010 Speaker 1: a pep in his step, as if he knew exactly 36 00:02:50,290 --> 00:02:54,790 Speaker 1: what awaited him there. The disciples summited a hill overlooking 37 00:02:54,870 --> 00:03:00,310 Speaker 1: the Decapolis. I've been here before, Matthew explained with trepidation. 38 00:03:00,970 --> 00:03:04,850 Speaker 3: It's a tense place with tense people. Even the Romans 39 00:03:04,910 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 3: have had a hard time keeping order here. 40 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 1: No one agrees on anything. The companions looked at each other, 41 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,459 Speaker 1: then the Decapolis. They could all sense that something was 42 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:23,230 Speaker 1: awaiting them there. Something terrifying, perhaps. The trail led downward, 43 00:03:24,190 --> 00:03:28,330 Speaker 1: switchbacking to the bustling streets filled with vendors and shrines 44 00:03:28,410 --> 00:03:32,930 Speaker 1: to different gods. It was early in the morning. The 45 00:03:32,970 --> 00:03:36,590 Speaker 1: sky was still a deep blue, and the air crisp 46 00:03:36,870 --> 00:03:40,650 Speaker 1: from the Sea of Galilee. The birds had only just 47 00:03:40,690 --> 00:03:44,850 Speaker 1: begun to wake and fly from their nests. Traveling in 48 00:03:44,890 --> 00:03:47,570 Speaker 1: the morning usually gave the group a chance to breathe 49 00:03:48,010 --> 00:03:53,250 Speaker 1: before the madness of mobs and miracles. However, this time 50 00:03:53,270 --> 00:03:56,220 Speaker 1: a divine appointment awaited them on the road. 51 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: It's hard to keep good news to ourselves. There's something 52 00:04:04,060 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: special about getting to share our joy with others in 53 00:04:07,420 --> 00:04:10,300 Speaker 2: the highlights of life. But what if someone told you 54 00:04:10,340 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: to keep good news to yourself? What if you were 55 00:04:12,970 --> 00:04:17,810 Speaker 2: told to keep the greatest news imaginable to yourself? Jesus 56 00:04:17,950 --> 00:04:20,310 Speaker 2: often commanded those he healed to tell no one of 57 00:04:20,350 --> 00:04:23,230 Speaker 2: what they had seen. Yet, he knew that this was 58 00:04:23,430 --> 00:04:26,630 Speaker 2: one command that would never be kept. The good news 59 00:04:26,670 --> 00:04:29,910 Speaker 2: of Jesus can't be contained, and unlikely many of those 60 00:04:29,970 --> 00:04:33,169 Speaker 2: healed in the Gospels, we're not told to remain silent. 61 00:04:33,690 --> 00:04:36,380 Speaker 2: We have the joy of sharing the Gospel, the good news, 62 00:04:36,580 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: with everyone we can. Welcome to The Jesus Podcast, a 63 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: year of stories showcasing the depth of Christ's love and 64 00:04:43,820 --> 00:04:47,580 Speaker 2: the glory of God's truth. I'm Zach, your host from Pray.com, 65 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,089 Speaker 2: and I'm excited to be with you today for another miracle. 66 00:04:50,570 --> 00:04:52,929 Speaker 2: Help us spread the good news of Jesus by following 67 00:04:52,950 --> 00:04:57,020 Speaker 2: the podcast as we dive deeper into our story. Jesus' 68 00:04:57,100 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 2: ministry took him all throughout Galilee and the surrounding cities. 69 00:05:00,540 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 2: Some places gladly welcomed him, while others met him with 70 00:05:03,820 --> 00:05:08,870 Speaker 2: hesitancy and rejection. As the disciples entered into Decapolis, it 71 00:05:08,930 --> 00:05:12,670 Speaker 2: wasn't anyone's guess on how Jesus would be heralded. Decapolis, 72 00:05:12,850 --> 00:05:15,970 Speaker 2: a grouping of 10 cities originally composed of the tribe 73 00:05:16,029 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: of Manasseh, had become primarily made up of Gentiles who 74 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:23,060 Speaker 2: leaned heavily into Greek influence. In our story today, it's 75 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: clear that Jesus' fame had already spread to some when 76 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,140 Speaker 2: a group of people brought a deaf and mute man 77 00:05:29,180 --> 00:05:32,380 Speaker 2: to him, hoping that the notorious rabbi would be able 78 00:05:32,430 --> 00:05:35,070 Speaker 2: to heal him. Jesus will separate himself from the young 79 00:05:35,130 --> 00:05:37,810 Speaker 2: man from the crowd before performing the miracle, and then 80 00:05:37,910 --> 00:05:40,490 Speaker 2: Jesus will give him clear instructions to tell no one. 81 00:05:44,510 --> 00:05:47,170 Speaker 1: Jesus and his companions reached the bottom of the hill. 82 00:05:48,290 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: Just then they heard a strange noise coming from behind 83 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:57,250 Speaker 1: a mossy stone wall. The disciples froze, but Jesus stepped forward. 84 00:05:58,830 --> 00:06:03,100 Speaker 1: A group of Gentiles appeared from behind the wall. The 85 00:06:03,130 --> 00:06:07,740 Speaker 1: noise came from a man making indistinct grunts with his 86 00:06:07,860 --> 00:06:13,700 Speaker 1: mouth and throat, a sound like an animal's. The tall, 87 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:18,990 Speaker 1: older man, presumably his father, stood beside him. He pulled 88 00:06:19,050 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: his son forward by the hand over to Jesus. Are 89 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:26,340 Speaker 1: you Jesus of Nazareth? As he spoke, a growing crowd 90 00:06:26,620 --> 00:06:30,720 Speaker 1: began to appear from behind the wall. Who's asking? Peter 91 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: replied with a paranoid glare. 92 00:06:33,050 --> 00:06:35,770 Speaker 3: Who are you, and what are your intentions? 93 00:06:36,510 --> 00:06:39,950 Speaker 1: Peter asked the grunting man, but the man only made 94 00:06:39,990 --> 00:06:44,570 Speaker 1: a complicated head gesture. He can't hear you. His father replied. 95 00:06:45,010 --> 00:06:48,890 Speaker 3: He's deaf and mute. He hasn't been able to speak 96 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,780 Speaker 3: or hear his whole life. 97 00:06:51,380 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: People looked eagerly at Jesus. He knew what they wanted. 98 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,089 Speaker 1: They had heard about Jesus, but had yet to see 99 00:07:00,410 --> 00:07:05,850 Speaker 1: what Jesus could do. They were wanting a sign, a 100 00:07:05,930 --> 00:07:08,029 Speaker 1: miracle to match the myth. 101 00:07:08,430 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 3: Could you heal him? Are you able to help? 102 00:07:12,150 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: Jesus regarded the man with compassion, but he had to 103 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:20,100 Speaker 1: be mindful of his next steps. He knew that even 104 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:24,150 Speaker 1: a minor miracle would be a spark in a dry valley. 105 00:07:25,510 --> 00:07:29,830 Speaker 1: Once he healed this man, an uncontrollable fire would begin. 106 00:07:31,890 --> 00:07:36,130 Speaker 1: Jesus leaked a smirk and waved. Bring him forward, the 107 00:07:36,170 --> 00:07:40,500 Speaker 1: young man looked from the crowd to Jesus with sad, 108 00:07:40,860 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: wandering eyes. He was confused but trusting just the same. 109 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,940 Speaker 1: They crowded around the mute man. and propped his arms 110 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: up to Jesus as if to make him understand. Jesus 111 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,710 Speaker 1: took the young man away from the crowd to a 112 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,570 Speaker 1: private place, a quiet section just around the corner a 113 00:08:04,610 --> 00:08:09,410 Speaker 1: few paces down between the two palms. The mute man 114 00:08:09,510 --> 00:08:13,690 Speaker 1: sat in the grass with a slightly confused, expectant look. 115 00:08:15,790 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: The sun's rising light shone brightly on the horizons. Jesus 116 00:08:20,860 --> 00:08:24,739 Speaker 1: knelt by him in silence. The two of them stared 117 00:08:24,860 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: out at the sunrise for a while, both appreciating its 118 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: grandeur and beauty. Jesus crouched beside the man and stared 119 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: into his eyes. A deep well of sadness could be 120 00:08:39,580 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: seen in the man's eyes. He wasn't born with any 121 00:08:44,100 --> 00:08:48,970 Speaker 1: mental ailment, but his lack of hearing and speech had 122 00:08:49,130 --> 00:08:53,550 Speaker 1: isolated him from people. He was trapped in his own mind, 123 00:08:54,470 --> 00:09:02,100 Speaker 1: unable to connect. Jesus knew his mind and heart. Jesus 124 00:09:02,170 --> 00:09:06,540 Speaker 1: placed his hands on the man's ears. He held them 125 00:09:06,580 --> 00:09:11,140 Speaker 1: like a craftsman holds a newly whittled figurine, feeling for 126 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:18,690 Speaker 1: blemishes and imperfections. Then Jesus spat into his hands, rubbed 127 00:09:18,710 --> 00:09:25,270 Speaker 1: them together, and touched the man's tongue. Then, sighing upward 128 00:09:25,309 --> 00:09:31,380 Speaker 1: to heaven, Jesus said, Father, be opened. The man's eyes 129 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: went wide, and he jumped back in shock. A sound 130 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:40,420 Speaker 1: like thunder echoed in the man's ears, followed by the 131 00:09:40,540 --> 00:09:45,500 Speaker 1: booming echoing sound of Jesus' voice and the crackling of 132 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:49,890 Speaker 1: ear bones snapping into place. The man brought his hands 133 00:09:49,929 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: to his face with a quick reactive impulse. The sounds 134 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:59,949 Speaker 1: of the world roared around him. Birds chirping, wind swirling. 135 00:10:00,420 --> 00:10:04,340 Speaker 1: insects buzzing, and the murmuring of the crowd behind him. 136 00:10:05,580 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: The man touched his jaw. 137 00:10:08,820 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 3: I can hear. 138 00:10:10,070 --> 00:10:13,569 Speaker 1: His words weren't broken coming out of his mouth. It 139 00:10:13,650 --> 00:10:16,530 Speaker 1: was as if he had been speaking his whole life. 140 00:10:18,020 --> 00:10:21,540 Speaker 1: Jesus didn't heal just his ears and mouth, but his 141 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: mind as well. Decades of lost learning had somehow been 142 00:10:28,140 --> 00:10:33,119 Speaker 1: reclaimed in an instant. His jaw and tongue made the 143 00:10:33,179 --> 00:10:37,719 Speaker 1: correct motions. His throat opened and closed at the right time. 144 00:10:39,179 --> 00:10:42,140 Speaker 1: The man was so startled by the sound of his voice, 145 00:10:42,660 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: he laid a hand on his chest. 146 00:10:45,100 --> 00:10:48,070 Speaker 3: That's... That's me, isn't it? 147 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: It was an odd question, but it didn't feel odd. 148 00:10:52,350 --> 00:10:55,230 Speaker 1: He had never heard the sound of his voice before. 149 00:10:56,570 --> 00:11:01,670 Speaker 1: Tears formed in the corners of his eyes. Jesus stood 150 00:11:01,750 --> 00:11:04,870 Speaker 1: up and helped the man onto his feet. He placed 151 00:11:04,929 --> 00:11:08,170 Speaker 1: his hands on the man's shoulders and said, I know. 152 00:11:08,070 --> 00:11:11,130 Speaker 3: You can speak, but tell no one what has happened here. 153 00:11:11,770 --> 00:11:12,930 Speaker 3: This is just between us. 154 00:11:13,460 --> 00:11:16,770 Speaker 1: The man looked back at the crowd. They were watching 155 00:11:16,830 --> 00:11:21,390 Speaker 1: from a distance in anticipation. He looked back at Jesus 156 00:11:21,470 --> 00:11:23,470 Speaker 1: and said, How is this possible? 157 00:11:23,490 --> 00:11:24,890 Speaker 3: They'll know. 158 00:11:25,380 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: Try your best, Jesus replied with a wink and smile. 159 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 1: The two of them walked back to the road where 160 00:11:33,340 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: the crowd waited with bated breath to see what had happened. 161 00:11:38,620 --> 00:11:42,750 Speaker 1: The young man met his father's gaze and immediately welled 162 00:11:42,830 --> 00:11:45,990 Speaker 1: up with joyful tears. He ran to him. 163 00:11:46,150 --> 00:11:47,670 Speaker 3: And yelled, Father! 164 00:11:48,140 --> 00:11:52,580 Speaker 1: He couldn't help it. His voice couldn't be tethered any longer. 165 00:11:54,340 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: Jesus chuckled, figuring that it was only a matter of time. 166 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:06,989 Speaker 1: The crowd collectively gasped, then erupted in cheers. The old 167 00:12:07,130 --> 00:12:10,870 Speaker 1: man limped toward his son and held him. The two 168 00:12:11,150 --> 00:12:16,750 Speaker 1: embraced for a long while, laughing and sobbing. The crowd 169 00:12:16,910 --> 00:12:17,590 Speaker 1: was amazed. 170 00:12:17,870 --> 00:12:20,229 Speaker 3: What does this mean? What else can he do? 171 00:12:20,630 --> 00:12:23,740 Speaker 1: Jesus stretched out his arms and settled them down. 172 00:12:24,270 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 3: My friends, please, I beg you not to tell anyone 173 00:12:27,420 --> 00:12:29,660 Speaker 3: what you've seen today. Let it be a blessing to 174 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 3: your hearts. Meditate on this and consider the goodness of 175 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,540 Speaker 3: God that he would grant this man his ears and voice. 176 00:12:38,340 --> 00:12:43,290 Speaker 3: Let it stir you to quiet praise. But please, hold 177 00:12:43,350 --> 00:12:45,390 Speaker 3: your tongues about what you've seen. 178 00:12:47,050 --> 00:12:51,420 Speaker 1: Peter and the others chuckled slightly. They knew better. People 179 00:12:51,540 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: never kept quiet, no matter how much Jesus charged them 180 00:12:54,900 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 1: to remain silent. Good news spreads like the common cold. 181 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: He turned to the others and said, They all nodded 182 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:11,719 Speaker 1: their heads. They wouldn't get another mile without thousands of 183 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: people flocking to see Jesus. This was the beginning of 184 00:13:18,420 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: something glorious. 185 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,059 Speaker 2: As Jesus traveled south from Tyre and Sidon, he once 186 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,290 Speaker 2: again drew close to the Sea of Galilee into a 187 00:13:27,330 --> 00:13:30,930 Speaker 2: group of cities called Decapolis. This would be the next 188 00:13:30,970 --> 00:13:34,850 Speaker 2: setting of his miracle, though perhaps an unconventional one. As 189 00:13:35,030 --> 00:13:37,930 Speaker 2: often has happened when Jesus entered into a new area, 190 00:13:38,010 --> 00:13:40,030 Speaker 2: a group of people had found him and began to 191 00:13:40,170 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: flock towards him. This particular group brought with them a 192 00:13:43,380 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: man who was deaf and mute in hopes that Jesus 193 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,780 Speaker 2: could bring the change that no one else could. It's 194 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 2: likely that these people had tried other means for healing. 195 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 2: Perhaps it was medicinal or seeking out the Greek gods 196 00:13:55,140 --> 00:13:58,860 Speaker 2: so heavily influenced their culture. But it's evident that all 197 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 2: of their attempts had no effect. So it's a beautiful 198 00:14:01,730 --> 00:14:04,750 Speaker 2: scene to see how their love compelled them to continue 199 00:14:04,790 --> 00:14:07,470 Speaker 2: to seek healing and how their faith had brought them 200 00:14:07,510 --> 00:14:11,290 Speaker 2: to seek Jesus to ask to perform a miracle. Even 201 00:14:11,410 --> 00:14:13,829 Speaker 2: if this man couldn't share his burden with Jesus on 202 00:14:13,870 --> 00:14:17,030 Speaker 2: his own, his loved ones would. Just like this man's 203 00:14:17,070 --> 00:14:19,470 Speaker 2: friends and family, we should all be willing to intercede 204 00:14:19,530 --> 00:14:22,310 Speaker 2: on behalf of those in need. Life is incredibly difficult, 205 00:14:22,530 --> 00:14:24,380 Speaker 2: and we'll never be able to get through it alone, 206 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 2: certainly not in the way Jesus hopes we will. At times, 207 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,820 Speaker 2: we'll be like this deaf and mute man, unable to 208 00:14:29,860 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 2: speak up for ourselves, and so we need advocates on 209 00:14:32,740 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: our behalf, willing to fight for us, willing to stand 210 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 2: up for us. Other times we'll be like his friends 211 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 2: and family, strengthened with hearts of compassion and care, persevering 212 00:14:41,070 --> 00:14:43,130 Speaker 2: for the sake of another. To do so is to 213 00:14:43,190 --> 00:14:46,310 Speaker 2: exemplify and manifest the love of Jesus. Whether it's giving 214 00:14:46,330 --> 00:14:48,590 Speaker 2: to someone you know who is in need, or creating 215 00:14:48,650 --> 00:14:51,330 Speaker 2: margin to pray regularly for your loved ones, there are 216 00:14:51,410 --> 00:14:54,090 Speaker 2: endless ways we can intercede on behalf of others and 217 00:14:54,170 --> 00:14:57,330 Speaker 2: help them where they need it most. Once this group 218 00:14:57,370 --> 00:14:59,910 Speaker 2: finds Jesus, we're told that he does something he didn't 219 00:15:00,150 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 2: often do when he performed a miracle. He pulls the 220 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,100 Speaker 2: young man away from the crowd. And then he does 221 00:15:06,140 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: something even more bizarre. He first cups his hands around 222 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 2: the deaf man's ears before spitting into his hands and 223 00:15:12,340 --> 00:15:15,460 Speaker 2: touching the man's mute tongue. We might be left wondering 224 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,580 Speaker 2: why Jesus would perform the miracle in this way. Jesus 225 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,910 Speaker 2: rarely stuck to one method of healing. Sometimes he would 226 00:15:21,930 --> 00:15:24,410 Speaker 2: heal with a word, other times it was a single touch, 227 00:15:24,790 --> 00:15:26,950 Speaker 2: and sometimes he didn't even need to be around at all. 228 00:15:27,490 --> 00:15:30,810 Speaker 2: But never before had Jesus healed quite like this, and 229 00:15:30,850 --> 00:15:33,890 Speaker 2: for good reason. When Jesus heals, he wants to get 230 00:15:33,910 --> 00:15:36,810 Speaker 2: the true attention of the one he's healing. This man 231 00:15:36,850 --> 00:15:40,270 Speaker 2: couldn't hear Jesus' words. He couldn't respond to the question like, 232 00:15:40,290 --> 00:15:42,990 Speaker 2: do you want to be made well? So Jesus captured 233 00:15:43,010 --> 00:15:46,390 Speaker 2: his attention in an unorthodox way. In the same way, 234 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,220 Speaker 2: Jesus wants to capture your attention. Maybe not in the 235 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:52,500 Speaker 2: exact same way by spitting on you, but every one 236 00:15:52,540 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: of us responds in different ways. We're moved in different ways. 237 00:15:56,850 --> 00:15:59,330 Speaker 2: Some of us are moved through words, others through music, 238 00:15:59,610 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 2: and still others in a particular place like the outdoors. 239 00:16:03,540 --> 00:16:05,540 Speaker 2: Jesus is willing to use any of them to get 240 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,980 Speaker 2: us to enter into his presence. Just like this mutant 241 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 2: deaf man, we just have to be willing to respond 242 00:16:10,580 --> 00:16:13,750 Speaker 2: once he does get our attention. Before healing the man, 243 00:16:13,780 --> 00:16:16,330 Speaker 2: the passage in Mark 7 tells us that Jesus looks 244 00:16:16,410 --> 00:16:19,170 Speaker 2: up at the heavens and sighs. When we think of 245 00:16:19,210 --> 00:16:22,350 Speaker 2: a sigh, we might equate it with frustration or tiredness. 246 00:16:22,930 --> 00:16:25,890 Speaker 2: But that wasn't the case here. The sigh of Jesus 247 00:16:25,930 --> 00:16:29,410 Speaker 2: was released from a place of compassion and empathy. His 248 00:16:29,470 --> 00:16:32,930 Speaker 2: gaze toward heaven seems to indicate that he was contemplating 249 00:16:32,970 --> 00:16:36,070 Speaker 2: how broken creation was, how far we had drifted from 250 00:16:36,130 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 2: God's heavenly hope for his creation. He could feel this 251 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,340 Speaker 2: man's years of pain and sadness, unable to even express 252 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 2: love to somebody. Jesus relates to our pain. He knows 253 00:16:46,580 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 2: what it means to be human because he himself became 254 00:16:48,850 --> 00:16:51,090 Speaker 2: fully man. Did you know you don't have a God 255 00:16:51,130 --> 00:16:53,430 Speaker 2: who's distant? You have a God who can relate to you. 256 00:16:53,820 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 2: We can't appreciate Jesus from his godhood, but we definitely 257 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,860 Speaker 2: shouldn't think for a second that he cheated his way 258 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: through life. He experienced suffering just as we do. He 259 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:07,500 Speaker 2: accepted every ounce of humanity, physical pain, emotional drainage, tiredness, grief, loneliness. 260 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,609 Speaker 2: He can fully relate to us and empathize completely with us. 261 00:17:11,050 --> 00:17:14,189 Speaker 2: In many ways, Jesus' empathy is even greater than we 262 00:17:14,250 --> 00:17:17,810 Speaker 2: realize because he does know the joy of heaven and 263 00:17:17,869 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: desperately longs for us to experience its goodness. God has 264 00:17:21,060 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 2: given us the same sense of longing. Whether we believe 265 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,379 Speaker 2: in God or not, it doesn't take much of a 266 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:29,100 Speaker 2: look around to see that things aren't perfect. Most of 267 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,220 Speaker 2: us could probably take a drive around our town to 268 00:17:31,290 --> 00:17:33,670 Speaker 2: see someone without a home or pass by a hospital 269 00:17:33,730 --> 00:17:36,210 Speaker 2: and be reminded of the countless sick and dying people 270 00:17:36,230 --> 00:17:39,449 Speaker 2: across the globe. Creation is broken and wired in our 271 00:17:39,530 --> 00:17:43,310 Speaker 2: souls is what many call holy discontentment, a desire for 272 00:17:43,330 --> 00:17:46,510 Speaker 2: things to be different. And for the believer, this discontentment 273 00:17:46,609 --> 00:17:49,370 Speaker 2: is linked to knowing that things aren't supposed to be 274 00:17:49,410 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 2: this way. but it's also connected to a hope of 275 00:17:51,900 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 2: knowing that things don't always have to be this way. 276 00:17:55,420 --> 00:17:58,260 Speaker 2: The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8.22, we know that 277 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,929 Speaker 2: the whole creation has been groaning as if in the 278 00:18:00,950 --> 00:18:03,850 Speaker 2: pains of childbirth right up until the present time. Not 279 00:18:03,890 --> 00:18:06,190 Speaker 2: only so, but we ourselves who have been the first 280 00:18:06,230 --> 00:18:09,210 Speaker 2: fruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly 281 00:18:09,270 --> 00:18:12,409 Speaker 2: for the adoption to sonship, to redemption of our bodies. 282 00:18:12,950 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 2: Creation itself groans to be healed from the brokenness that 283 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:19,030 Speaker 2: sin causes. And those of us who know the hope 284 00:18:19,070 --> 00:18:22,209 Speaker 2: of the gospel inwardly groan for the day that Jesus 285 00:18:22,250 --> 00:18:25,190 Speaker 2: makes all things new outwardly. But it was a miracle 286 00:18:25,260 --> 00:18:28,460 Speaker 2: like one in our story today that reminds us Jesus 287 00:18:28,580 --> 00:18:31,859 Speaker 2: is doing just that. He was paving the way to 288 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 2: redeem creation in another magnificent step in his plans to 289 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 2: make all things new. And if we look closely at 290 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 2: the passage with a few key insights, we find a 291 00:18:40,260 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: little Easter egg of how Mark was showing this to 292 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 2: be Jesus' purpose. We read in Mark 7.35, it says, 293 00:18:46,980 --> 00:18:49,230 Speaker 2: At this time the man's ears were opened, his tongue 294 00:18:49,250 --> 00:18:52,230 Speaker 2: was loosened, and he began to speak plainly. The words, 295 00:18:52,390 --> 00:18:55,750 Speaker 2: his tongue was loosened, comes from a Greek phrase that 296 00:18:55,830 --> 00:18:59,850 Speaker 2: is only used once in the New Testament right here. Interestingly, 297 00:18:59,910 --> 00:19:02,550 Speaker 2: this phrase is also used once in the Greek translation 298 00:19:02,570 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 2: of the Old Testament in Isaiah. The prophet wrote Isaiah 35.5, 299 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 2: Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and 300 00:19:08,820 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 2: the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame 301 00:19:11,660 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 2: leap like a deer and the mute tongues shout for joy. 302 00:19:14,580 --> 00:19:16,459 Speaker 2: When Jesus healed this man, he wasn't just giving him 303 00:19:16,510 --> 00:19:20,149 Speaker 2: the privilege of hearing and speaking. He was, in that moment, 304 00:19:20,210 --> 00:19:23,510 Speaker 2: fulfilling prophecy. He was demonstrating that he was, in fact, 305 00:19:23,530 --> 00:19:25,889 Speaker 2: the Messiah. As we learn about the scriptures linking the 306 00:19:25,970 --> 00:19:27,889 Speaker 2: Old Testament to the New Testament, our faith should be 307 00:19:27,990 --> 00:19:31,350 Speaker 2: strengthened in seeing Jesus was everything he said he was. 308 00:19:32,090 --> 00:19:33,929 Speaker 2: And as we come to realize the wonders of Jesus, 309 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: we should tell everyone about him. Though Jesus commanded this 310 00:19:37,619 --> 00:19:39,859 Speaker 2: man and the onlookers of the miracle to tell no one, 311 00:19:40,220 --> 00:19:42,980 Speaker 2: he understood this request wouldn't be kept. He knew quite 312 00:19:43,020 --> 00:19:45,260 Speaker 2: well the news of this miracle would spread like wildfire. 313 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,430 Speaker 2: But unlike those people, we haven't been asked to keep quiet. 314 00:19:48,970 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 2: Jesus has given us a great mission of spreading the 315 00:19:51,220 --> 00:19:53,430 Speaker 2: good news to anyone we can. And what a joy 316 00:19:53,450 --> 00:19:54,610 Speaker 2: it is to know that we don't have to keep 317 00:19:54,670 --> 00:19:56,450 Speaker 2: any of it in. As you see God work in 318 00:19:56,470 --> 00:19:58,810 Speaker 2: your life, be bold and proclaim the great things God 319 00:19:58,850 --> 00:20:01,550 Speaker 2: has done for you. We could be his mouthpieces, active 320 00:20:01,590 --> 00:20:03,850 Speaker 2: parts in this heavenly mission. We get to spread the 321 00:20:03,890 --> 00:20:06,929 Speaker 2: greatest news possible that Jesus is alive and wants to 322 00:20:06,970 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 2: give us life too. Thanks again for joining me on 323 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:12,710 Speaker 2: the Jesus Podcast. We'll continue to press on to the 324 00:20:12,730 --> 00:20:16,050 Speaker 2: miracles of the Messiah, learning new and wonderful insights about 325 00:20:16,090 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 2: our Lord, and perhaps about ourselves.