1 00:00:00,710 --> 00:00:04,110 Speaker 1: And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the 2 00:00:04,130 --> 00:00:07,590 Speaker 1: more He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: Mark 7.36 Heavenly Father, we are moved by the uncontrollable 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:19,659 Speaker 1: urge to share Your greatness and goodness. Your works are 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:24,500 Speaker 1: too wonderful, Your grace too boundless, and Your love too 6 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: deep for us to keep to ourselves. Like those who 7 00:00:28,570 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: witnessed Jesus' miracles, our hearts overflow with the desire to 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,949 Speaker 1: sing your praises from the rooftops. Lord, grant us the 9 00:00:38,010 --> 00:00:41,550 Speaker 1: wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen, 10 00:00:42,729 --> 00:00:46,290 Speaker 1: that our words may always honor you and edify others. 11 00:00:48,270 --> 00:00:51,070 Speaker 1: Guide our tongues to share your love and truth in 12 00:00:51,130 --> 00:00:55,910 Speaker 1: ways that draw people closer to you, while also teaching 13 00:00:56,050 --> 00:01:02,580 Speaker 1: us the power of silent witness through our actions. Empower us, God, 14 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,500 Speaker 1: to be the messengers of your hope and love, using 15 00:01:06,580 --> 00:01:11,100 Speaker 1: both our voices and our lives to proclaim the beauty 16 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:15,289 Speaker 1: of your holiness. In Jesus' name we pray. 17 00:01:16,850 --> 00:01:17,110 Speaker 2: Amen. 18 00:01:19,290 --> 00:01:22,929 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Welcome back to 19 00:01:22,950 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: the Jesus Podcast. Gospel-inspired stories created and crafted to entertain 20 00:01:29,740 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: and enliven your faith. Has the Jesus Podcast blessed you? 21 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,600 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 00:01:45,490 --> 00:01:49,330 Speaker 1: Jesus and his companions walked the winding path leading to 24 00:01:49,350 --> 00:01:54,490 Speaker 1: the Decapolis. Word about Jesus' teachings had created quite a stir. 25 00:01:55,650 --> 00:02:00,370 Speaker 1: Each disciple was afraid of what awaited them there. Would 26 00:02:00,390 --> 00:02:04,510 Speaker 1: it be a mob? An army? The entire region was 27 00:02:04,570 --> 00:02:10,220 Speaker 1: a smattering of Jews, Gentiles, Romans, and barbarians. They warred 28 00:02:10,290 --> 00:02:14,560 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 00:02:22,580 --> 00:02:26,340 Speaker 1: Word of Jesus' ministry had stretched beyond the borders of Judea, 31 00:02:27,260 --> 00:02:32,190 Speaker 1: intriguing people of all different backgrounds. Hope is known by 32 00:02:32,310 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: one people's The hope of the gospel was accessible to 33 00:02:37,030 --> 00:02:42,770 Speaker 1: anyone who would listen, regardless of their national loyalty. That 34 00:02:42,810 --> 00:02:47,250 Speaker 1: is why Jesus entered the Decapolis with excitement. He had 35 00:02:47,310 --> 00:02:49,990 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 them there. The disciples summited a hill overlooking 37 00:02:54,870 --> 00:03:00,290 Speaker 1: the Decapolis. I've been here before, Matthew explained with trepidation. 38 00:03:00,970 --> 00:03:04,860 Speaker 2: It's a tense place with tense people. Even the Romans 39 00:03:04,900 --> 00:03:06,940 Speaker 2: have had a hard time keeping order here. 40 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:11,500 Speaker 1: No one agrees on anything. The companions looked at each other, 41 00:03:12,260 --> 00:03:16,450 Speaker 1: then the Decapolis. They could all sense that something was 42 00:03:16,510 --> 00:03:23,209 Speaker 1: awaiting them there. Something terrifying, perhaps. The trail led downward, 43 00:03:24,169 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: switchbacking to the bustling streets filled with vendors and shrines 44 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,910 Speaker 1: to different gods. It was early in the morning. The 45 00:03:32,950 --> 00:03:36,590 Speaker 1: sky was still a deep blue, and the air crisp 46 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: from the Sea of Galilee. The birds had only just 47 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:44,860 Speaker 1: begun to wake and fly from their nests. Traveling in 48 00:03:44,880 --> 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 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: a divine appointment awaited them on the road. 51 00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 3: It's hard to keep good news to ourselves. There's something 52 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,380 Speaker 3: special about getting to share our joy with others in 53 00:04:07,420 --> 00:04:10,300 Speaker 3: the highlights of life. But what if someone told you 54 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,870 Speaker 3: to keep good news to yourself? What if you were 55 00:04:12,950 --> 00:04:17,810 Speaker 3: told to keep the greatest news imaginable to yourself? Jesus 56 00:04:17,930 --> 00:04:20,310 Speaker 3: often commanded those he healed to tell no one of 57 00:04:20,350 --> 00:04:23,230 Speaker 3: what they had seen. Yet, he knew that this was 58 00:04:23,410 --> 00:04:26,610 Speaker 3: one command that would never be kept. The good news 59 00:04:26,650 --> 00:04:29,890 Speaker 3: of Jesus can't be contained, and unlikely many of those 60 00:04:29,950 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 3: healed in the Gospels, we're not told to remain silent. 61 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 3: We have the joy of sharing the Gospel, the good news, 62 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,860 Speaker 3: with everyone we can. Welcome to The Jesus Podcast, a 63 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:43,790 Speaker 3: year of stories showcasing the depth of Christ's love and 64 00:04:43,810 --> 00:04:47,570 Speaker 3: the glory of God's truth. I'm Zach, your host from Pray.com, 65 00:04:47,830 --> 00:04:50,089 Speaker 3: and I'm excited to be with you today for another miracle. 66 00:04:50,550 --> 00:04:52,909 Speaker 3: Help us spread the good news of Jesus by following 67 00:04:52,930 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 3: the podcast as we dive deeper into our story. Jesus' 68 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 3: ministry took him all throughout Galilee and the surrounding cities. 69 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,700 Speaker 3: Some places gladly welcomed him, while others met him with 70 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:08,850 Speaker 3: hesitancy and rejection. As the disciples entered into Decapolis, it 71 00:05:08,910 --> 00:05:12,650 Speaker 3: wasn't anyone's guess on how Jesus would be heralded. Decapolis, 72 00:05:12,850 --> 00:05:15,969 Speaker 3: a grouping of 10 cities originally composed of the tribe 73 00:05:16,010 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 3: of Manasseh, had become primarily made up of Gentiles who 74 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 3: leaned heavily into Greek influence. In our story today, it's 75 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:26,780 Speaker 3: clear that Jesus' fame had already spread to some when 76 00:05:26,820 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 3: a group of people brought a deaf and mute man 77 00:05:29,190 --> 00:05:32,370 Speaker 3: to him, hoping that the notorious rabbi would be able 78 00:05:32,410 --> 00:05:35,050 Speaker 3: to heal him. Jesus will separate himself from the young 79 00:05:35,110 --> 00:05:37,790 Speaker 3: man from the crowd before performing the miracle, and then 80 00:05:37,890 --> 00:05:40,469 Speaker 3: Jesus will give him clear instructions to tell no one. 81 00:05:44,490 --> 00:05:47,150 Speaker 1: Jesus and his companions reached the bottom of the hill. 82 00:05:48,270 --> 00:05:51,700 Speaker 1: Just then they heard a strange noise coming from behind 83 00:05:51,779 --> 00:05:57,229 Speaker 1: a mossy stone wall. The disciples froze, but Jesus stepped forward. 84 00:05:58,810 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: A group of Gentiles appeared from behind the wall. The 85 00:06:03,140 --> 00:06:07,740 Speaker 1: noise came from a man making indistinct grunts with his 86 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:13,690 Speaker 1: mouth and throat, a sound like an animal's. A tall, 87 00:06:13,970 --> 00:06:18,969 Speaker 1: older man, presumably his father, stood beside him. He pulled 88 00:06:19,029 --> 00:06:21,650 Speaker 1: his son forward by the hand over to Jesus. 89 00:06:22,460 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: Are you Jesus of Nazareth? 90 00:06:24,380 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: As he spoke, a growing crowd began to appear from 91 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:32,300 Speaker 1: behind the wall. Who's asking? Peter replied with a paranoid glare. 92 00:06:33,050 --> 00:06:35,750 Speaker 2: Who are you, and what are your intentions? 93 00:06:36,510 --> 00:06:39,930 Speaker 1: Peter asked the grunting man, but the man only made 94 00:06:39,990 --> 00:06:44,549 Speaker 1: a complicated head gesture. He can't hear you. His father replied. 95 00:06:45,010 --> 00:06:46,790 Speaker 3: He's deaf and mute. 96 00:06:47,630 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: He hasn't been able to speak or hear his whole life. 97 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,740 Speaker 1: People looked eagerly at Jesus. He knew what they wanted. 98 00:06:56,820 --> 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 00:07:05,910 --> 00:07:08,010 Speaker 1: miracle to match the myth. 101 00:07:08,430 --> 00:07:11,650 Speaker 2: Could you heal him? Are you able to help? 102 00:07:12,130 --> 00:07:16,010 Speaker 1: Jesus regarded the man with compassion, but he had to 103 00:07:16,050 --> 00:07:20,090 Speaker 1: be mindful of his next steps. He knew that even 104 00:07:20,130 --> 00:07:24,130 Speaker 1: a minor miracle would be a spark in a dry valley. 105 00:07:25,490 --> 00:07:29,820 Speaker 1: Once he healed this man, an uncontrollable fire would begin. 106 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: Jesus leaked a smirk and waved. Bring him forward, the 107 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: young man looked from the crowd to Jesus with sad, 108 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:46,060 Speaker 1: wandering eyes. He was confused but trusting just the same. 109 00:07:48,140 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: They crowded around the mute man. and propped his arms 110 00:07:52,060 --> 00:07:58,150 Speaker 1: up to Jesus as if to make him understand. Jesus 111 00:07:58,190 --> 00:08:00,690 Speaker 1: took the young man away from the crowd to a 112 00:08:00,750 --> 00:08:04,550 Speaker 1: private place, a quiet section just around the corner a 113 00:08:04,590 --> 00:08:09,390 Speaker 1: few paces down between the two palms. The mute man 114 00:08:09,490 --> 00:08:13,670 Speaker 1: sat in the grass with a slightly confused, expectant look. 115 00:08:15,770 --> 00:08:20,740 Speaker 1: The sun's rising light shone brightly on the horizons. Jesus 116 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: knelt by him in silence. The two of them stared 117 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,980 Speaker 1: out at the sunrise for a while, both appreciating its 118 00:08:29,060 --> 00:08:34,940 Speaker 1: grandeur and beauty. Jesus crouched beside the man and stared 119 00:08:34,980 --> 00:08:39,500 Speaker 1: into his eyes. A deep well of sadness could be 120 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,980 Speaker 1: seen in the man's eyes. He wasn't born with any 121 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: mental ailment, but his lack of hearing and speech had 122 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:53,540 Speaker 1: isolated him from people. He was trapped in his own mind, 123 00:08:54,460 --> 00:09:02,090 Speaker 1: unable to connect. Jesus knew his mind and heart. Jesus 124 00:09:02,170 --> 00:09:06,530 Speaker 1: placed his hands on the man's ears. He held them 125 00:09:06,590 --> 00:09:11,150 Speaker 1: like a craftsman holds a newly whittled figurine, feeling for 126 00:09:11,190 --> 00:09:18,670 Speaker 1: blemishes and imperfections. Then Jesus spat into his hands, rubbed 127 00:09:18,690 --> 00:09:25,260 Speaker 1: them together, and touched the man's tongue. Then, sighing upward 128 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:31,359 Speaker 1: to heaven, Jesus said, Father, be opened. The man's eyes 129 00:09:31,420 --> 00:09:35,620 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 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:45,490 Speaker 1: booming echoing sound of Jesus' voice and the crackling of 132 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: ear bones snapping into place. The man brought his hands 133 00:09:49,940 --> 00:09:54,380 Speaker 1: to his face with a quick reactive impulse. The sounds 134 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:59,950 Speaker 1: of the world roared around him. Birds chirping, wind swirling. 135 00:10:00,420 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 1: insects buzzing, and the murmuring of the crowd behind him. 136 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,020 Speaker 1: The man touched his jaw. 137 00:10:07,990 --> 00:10:09,550 Speaker 2: I can hear. 138 00:10:10,050 --> 00:10:13,570 Speaker 1: His words weren't broken coming out of his mouth. It 139 00:10:13,650 --> 00:10:16,510 Speaker 1: was as if he had been speaking his whole life. 140 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,540 Speaker 1: Jesus didn't heal just his ears and mouth, but his 141 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:27,870 Speaker 1: mind as well. Decades of lost learning had somehow been 142 00:10:28,150 --> 00:10:33,130 Speaker 1: reclaimed in an instant. His jaw and tongue made the 143 00:10:33,170 --> 00:10:37,740 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 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:44,500 Speaker 1: he laid a hand on his chest. 146 00:10:45,100 --> 00:10:48,060 Speaker 2: That's... That's me, isn't it? 147 00:10:48,650 --> 00:10:51,750 Speaker 1: It was an odd question, but it didn't feel odd. 148 00:10:52,330 --> 00:10:55,210 Speaker 1: He had never heard the sound of his voice before. 149 00:10:56,550 --> 00:11:01,650 Speaker 1: Tears formed in the corners of his eyes. Jesus stood 150 00:11:01,730 --> 00:11:04,870 Speaker 1: up and helped the man onto his feet. He placed 151 00:11:04,910 --> 00:11:08,170 Speaker 1: his hands on the man's shoulders and said, I know. 152 00:11:08,050 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: You can speak, but tell no one what has happened here. 153 00:11:11,750 --> 00:11:12,910 Speaker 2: This is just between us. 154 00:11:13,429 --> 00:11:16,750 Speaker 1: The man looked back at the crowd. They were watching 155 00:11:16,809 --> 00:11:21,380 Speaker 1: from a distance in anticipation. He looked back at Jesus 156 00:11:21,460 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: and said, How is this possible? 157 00:11:23,500 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 2: They'll know. Try your best. 158 00:11:26,780 --> 00:11:31,619 Speaker 1: Jesus replied with a wink and smile. The two of 159 00:11:31,660 --> 00:11:34,180 Speaker 1: them walked back to the road where the crowd waited 160 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:38,950 Speaker 1: with bated breath to see what had happened. The young 161 00:11:39,010 --> 00:11:43,130 Speaker 1: man met his father's gaze and immediately welled up with 162 00:11:43,270 --> 00:11:48,220 Speaker 1: joyful tears. He ran to him and yelled, Father! He 163 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:52,580 Speaker 1: couldn't help it. His voice couldn't be tethered any longer. 164 00:11:54,340 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: Jesus chuckled, figuring that it was only a matter of time. 165 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:06,990 Speaker 1: The crowd collectively gasped, then erupted in cheers. The old 166 00:12:07,110 --> 00:12:10,850 Speaker 1: man limped toward his son and held him. The two 167 00:12:11,130 --> 00:12:16,730 Speaker 1: embraced for a long while, laughing and sobbing. The crowd 168 00:12:16,910 --> 00:12:17,570 Speaker 1: was amazed. 169 00:12:17,870 --> 00:12:20,209 Speaker 2: What does this mean? What else can he do? 170 00:12:20,610 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: Jesus stretched out his arms and settled them down. 171 00:12:24,260 --> 00:12:27,380 Speaker 2: My friends, please, I beg you not to tell anyone 172 00:12:27,420 --> 00:12:29,660 Speaker 2: what you've seen today. Let it be a blessing to 173 00:12:29,740 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 2: your hearts. Meditate on this and consider the goodness of God, 174 00:12:34,860 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 2: that he would grant this man his ears and voice, 175 00:12:38,350 --> 00:12:43,290 Speaker 2: that it stir you to quiet praise. But please, hold 176 00:12:43,350 --> 00:12:45,390 Speaker 2: your tongues about what you've seen. 177 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: Peter and the others chuckled slightly. They knew better. People 178 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:54,780 Speaker 1: never kept quiet, no matter how much Jesus charged them 179 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:59,939 Speaker 1: to remain silent. Good news spreads like the common cold. 180 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: He turned to the others and said, They all nodded 181 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:11,709 Speaker 1: their heads. They wouldn't get another mile without thousands of 182 00:13:11,790 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: people flocking to see Jesus. This was the beginning of 183 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: something glorious. 184 00:13:22,390 --> 00:13:25,050 Speaker 3: As Jesus traveled south from Tyre and Sidon, he once 185 00:13:25,110 --> 00:13:27,290 Speaker 3: again drew close to the Sea of Galilee into a 186 00:13:27,309 --> 00:13:30,910 Speaker 3: group of cities called Decapolis. This would be the next 187 00:13:30,950 --> 00:13:34,830 Speaker 3: setting of his miracle, though perhaps an unconventional one. As 188 00:13:35,010 --> 00:13:37,910 Speaker 3: often has happened when Jesus entered into a new area, 189 00:13:37,990 --> 00:13:40,010 Speaker 3: a group of people had found him and began to 190 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,260 Speaker 3: flock towards him. This particular group brought with them a 191 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,020 Speaker 3: man who was deaf and mute in hopes that Jesus 192 00:13:46,059 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 3: could bring the change that no one else could. It's 193 00:13:48,860 --> 00:13:51,540 Speaker 3: likely that these people had tried other means for healing. 194 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,060 Speaker 3: Perhaps it was medicinal or seeking out the Greek gods 195 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,850 Speaker 3: so heavily influenced their culture. But it's evident that all 196 00:13:58,870 --> 00:14:01,630 Speaker 3: of their attempts had no effect. So it's a beautiful 197 00:14:01,710 --> 00:14:04,729 Speaker 3: scene to see how their love compelled them to continue 198 00:14:04,770 --> 00:14:07,449 Speaker 3: to seek healing and how their faith had brought them 199 00:14:07,490 --> 00:14:11,290 Speaker 3: to seek Jesus to ask to perform a miracle. Even 200 00:14:11,410 --> 00:14:13,809 Speaker 3: if this man couldn't share his burden with Jesus on 201 00:14:13,850 --> 00:14:17,010 Speaker 3: his own, his loved ones would. Just like this man's 202 00:14:17,050 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 3: friends and family, we should all be willing to intercede 203 00:14:19,510 --> 00:14:22,300 Speaker 3: on behalf of those in need. Life is incredibly difficult, 204 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 3: and we'll never be able to get through it alone, 205 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,660 Speaker 3: certainly not in the way Jesus hopes we will. At times, 206 00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 3: we'll be like this deaf and mute man, unable to 207 00:14:29,860 --> 00:14:32,660 Speaker 3: speak up for ourselves, and so we need advocates on 208 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,190 Speaker 3: our behalf, willing to fight for us, willing to stand 209 00:14:35,250 --> 00:14:37,550 Speaker 3: up for us. Other times we'll be like his friends 210 00:14:37,590 --> 00:14:40,990 Speaker 3: and family, strengthened with hearts of compassion and care, persevering 211 00:14:41,050 --> 00:14:43,110 Speaker 3: for the sake of another. To do so is to 212 00:14:43,170 --> 00:14:46,290 Speaker 3: exemplify and manifest the love of Jesus. Whether it's giving 213 00:14:46,330 --> 00:14:48,570 Speaker 3: to someone you know who is in need, or creating 214 00:14:48,630 --> 00:14:51,310 Speaker 3: margin to pray regularly for your loved ones, there are 215 00:14:51,390 --> 00:14:54,070 Speaker 3: endless ways we can intercede on behalf of others and 216 00:14:54,150 --> 00:14:57,340 Speaker 3: help them where they need it most. Once this group 217 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,900 Speaker 3: finds Jesus, we're told that he does something he didn't 218 00:15:00,140 --> 00:15:03,250 Speaker 3: often do when he performed a miracle. He pulls the 219 00:15:03,290 --> 00:15:06,100 Speaker 3: young man away from the crowd. And then he does 220 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 3: something even more bizarre. He first cups his hands around 221 00:15:09,340 --> 00:15:12,260 Speaker 3: the deaf man's ears before spitting into his hands and 222 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,460 Speaker 3: touching the man's mute tongue. We might be left wondering 223 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 3: why Jesus would perform the miracle in this way. Jesus 224 00:15:18,820 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 3: rarely stuck to one method of healing. Sometimes he would 225 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:24,410 Speaker 3: heal with a word, other times it was a single touch, 226 00:15:24,790 --> 00:15:26,930 Speaker 3: and sometimes he didn't even need to be around at all. 227 00:15:27,470 --> 00:15:30,810 Speaker 3: But never before had Jesus healed quite like this, and 228 00:15:30,830 --> 00:15:33,890 Speaker 3: for good reason. When Jesus heals, he wants to get 229 00:15:34,030 --> 00:15:36,810 Speaker 3: the true attention of the one he's healing. This man 230 00:15:36,850 --> 00:15:40,270 Speaker 3: couldn't hear Jesus' words. He couldn't respond to the question like, 231 00:15:40,290 --> 00:15:42,970 Speaker 3: do you want to be made well? So Jesus captured 232 00:15:42,990 --> 00:15:46,380 Speaker 3: his attention in an unorthodox way. In the same way, 233 00:15:46,460 --> 00:15:49,220 Speaker 3: Jesus wants to capture your attention. Maybe not in the 234 00:15:49,260 --> 00:15:52,500 Speaker 3: exact same way by spitting on you, but every one 235 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:56,300 Speaker 3: of us responds in different ways. We're moved in different ways. 236 00:15:56,850 --> 00:15:59,330 Speaker 3: Some of us are moved through words, others through music, 237 00:15:59,590 --> 00:16:02,850 Speaker 3: and still others in a particular place like the outdoors. 238 00:16:03,530 --> 00:16:05,530 Speaker 3: Jesus is willing to use any of them to get 239 00:16:05,570 --> 00:16:07,950 Speaker 3: us to enter into his presence. Just like this mutant 240 00:16:07,990 --> 00:16:10,270 Speaker 3: deaf man, we just have to be willing to respond 241 00:16:10,550 --> 00:16:13,740 Speaker 3: once he does get our attention. Before healing the man, 242 00:16:13,770 --> 00:16:16,300 Speaker 3: the passage in Mark 7 tells us that Jesus looks 243 00:16:16,380 --> 00:16:19,140 Speaker 3: up at the heavens and sighs. When we think of 244 00:16:19,180 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: a sigh, we might equate it with frustration or tiredness. 245 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,870 Speaker 3: But that wasn't the case here. The sigh of Jesus 246 00:16:25,900 --> 00:16:29,390 Speaker 3: was released from a place of compassion and empathy. His 247 00:16:29,470 --> 00:16:32,910 Speaker 3: gaze toward heaven seems to indicate that he was contemplating 248 00:16:32,950 --> 00:16:36,050 Speaker 3: how broken creation was, how far we had drifted from 249 00:16:36,110 --> 00:16:39,190 Speaker 3: God's heavenly hope for his creation. He could feel this 250 00:16:39,250 --> 00:16:42,310 Speaker 3: man's years of pain and sadness, unable to even express 251 00:16:42,770 --> 00:16:46,530 Speaker 3: love to somebody. Jesus relates to our pain. He knows 252 00:16:46,570 --> 00:16:48,770 Speaker 3: what it means to be human because he himself became 253 00:16:48,810 --> 00:16:51,070 Speaker 3: fully man. Did you know you don't have a God 254 00:16:51,090 --> 00:16:53,390 Speaker 3: who's distant? You have a God who can relate to you. 255 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,500 Speaker 3: We can't appreciate Jesus from his godhood, but we definitely 256 00:16:56,620 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 3: shouldn't think for a second that he cheated his way 257 00:16:58,860 --> 00:17:02,180 Speaker 3: through life. He experienced suffering just as we do. He 258 00:17:02,230 --> 00:17:07,490 Speaker 3: accepted every ounce of humanity, physical pain, emotional drainage, tiredness, grief, loneliness. 259 00:17:07,910 --> 00:17:10,590 Speaker 3: He can fully relate to us and empathize completely with us. 260 00:17:11,050 --> 00:17:14,169 Speaker 3: In many ways, Jesus' empathy is even greater than we 261 00:17:14,230 --> 00:17:17,790 Speaker 3: realize because he does know the joy of heaven and 262 00:17:17,850 --> 00:17:21,020 Speaker 3: desperately longs for us to experience its goodness. God has 263 00:17:21,060 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 3: given us the same sense of longing. Whether we believe 264 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,379 Speaker 3: in God or not, it doesn't take much of a 265 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:29,109 Speaker 3: look around to see that things aren't perfect. Most of 266 00:17:29,140 --> 00:17:31,230 Speaker 3: us could probably take a drive around our town to 267 00:17:31,290 --> 00:17:33,670 Speaker 3: see someone without a home or pass by a hospital 268 00:17:33,710 --> 00:17:36,190 Speaker 3: and be reminded of the countless sick and dying people 269 00:17:36,230 --> 00:17:39,449 Speaker 3: across the globe. Creation is broken and wired in our 270 00:17:39,510 --> 00:17:43,290 Speaker 3: souls is what many call holy discontentment, a desire for 271 00:17:43,310 --> 00:17:46,490 Speaker 3: things to be different. And for the believer, this discontentment 272 00:17:46,590 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 3: is linked to knowing that things aren't supposed to be 273 00:17:49,410 --> 00:17:51,820 Speaker 3: this way. but it's also connected to a hope of 274 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,980 Speaker 3: knowing that things don't always have to be this way. 275 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,250 Speaker 3: The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8.22, we know that 276 00:17:58,290 --> 00:18:00,909 Speaker 3: the whole creation has been groaning as if in the 277 00:18:00,950 --> 00:18:03,830 Speaker 3: pains of childbirth right up until the present time. Not 278 00:18:03,869 --> 00:18:06,410 Speaker 3: only so, but we ourselves who have been the firstfruits 279 00:18:06,430 --> 00:18:09,350 Speaker 3: of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for 280 00:18:09,390 --> 00:18:13,300 Speaker 3: the adoption to sonship, to redemption of our bodies. Creation 281 00:18:13,340 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 3: itself groans to be healed from the brokenness that sin causes. 282 00:18:17,330 --> 00:18:19,230 Speaker 3: And those of us who know the hope of the 283 00:18:19,290 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 3: gospel inwardly groan for the day that Jesus makes all 284 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 3: things new outwardly. But it was a miracle like one 285 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,139 Speaker 3: in our story today that reminds us Jesus is doing 286 00:18:29,380 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 3: just that. He was paving the way to redeem creation 287 00:18:32,940 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 3: in another magnificent step in his plans to make all 288 00:18:35,660 --> 00:18:38,220 Speaker 3: things new. And if we look closely at the passage 289 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,740 Speaker 3: with a few key insights, we find a little Easter 290 00:18:40,820 --> 00:18:44,050 Speaker 3: egg of how Mark was showing this to be Jesus' purpose. 291 00:18:44,790 --> 00:18:47,570 Speaker 3: We read in Mark 7.35, it says, At this time 292 00:18:47,630 --> 00:18:50,070 Speaker 3: the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and 293 00:18:50,090 --> 00:18:53,650 Speaker 3: he began to speak plainly. The words, his tongue was loosened, 294 00:18:54,030 --> 00:18:57,270 Speaker 3: comes from a Greek phrase that is only used once 295 00:18:57,410 --> 00:19:00,540 Speaker 3: in the New Testament right here. Interestingly, this phrase is 296 00:19:00,660 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 3: also used once in the Greek translation of the Old 297 00:19:02,940 --> 00:19:07,460 Speaker 3: Testament in Isaiah. The prophet wrote Isaiah 35.5, Then will 298 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:09,140 Speaker 3: the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears 299 00:19:09,180 --> 00:19:12,060 Speaker 3: of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like 300 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:14,689 Speaker 3: a deer and the mute tongues shout for joy. When 301 00:19:14,710 --> 00:19:16,570 Speaker 3: Jesus healed this man, he wasn't just giving him the 302 00:19:16,630 --> 00:19:20,129 Speaker 3: privilege of hearing and speaking. He was, in that moment, 303 00:19:20,190 --> 00:19:23,490 Speaker 3: fulfilling prophecy. He was demonstrating that he was, in fact, 304 00:19:23,510 --> 00:19:25,869 Speaker 3: the Messiah. As we learn about the scriptures linking the 305 00:19:25,950 --> 00:19:27,869 Speaker 3: Old Testament to the New Testament, our faith should be 306 00:19:27,970 --> 00:19:31,340 Speaker 3: strengthened in seeing Jesus was everything he said he was. 307 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 3: And as we come to realize the wonders of Jesus, 308 00:19:34,340 --> 00:19:37,540 Speaker 3: we should tell everyone about him. Though Jesus commanded this 309 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 3: man and the onlookers of the miracle to tell no one, 310 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,980 Speaker 3: he understood this request wouldn't be kept. He knew quite 311 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,260 Speaker 3: well the news of this miracle would spread like wildfire. 312 00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:48,430 Speaker 3: But unlike those people, we haven't been asked to keep quiet. 313 00:19:48,950 --> 00:19:51,189 Speaker 3: Jesus has given us a great mission of spreading the 314 00:19:51,230 --> 00:19:53,410 Speaker 3: good news to anyone we can. And what a joy 315 00:19:53,430 --> 00:19:54,590 Speaker 3: it is to know that we don't have to keep 316 00:19:54,650 --> 00:19:56,429 Speaker 3: any of it in. As you see God work in 317 00:19:56,450 --> 00:19:58,810 Speaker 3: your life, be bold and proclaim the great things God 318 00:19:58,830 --> 00:20:01,530 Speaker 3: has done for you. We could be his mouthpieces, active 319 00:20:01,590 --> 00:20:03,830 Speaker 3: parts in this heavenly mission. We get to spread the 320 00:20:03,869 --> 00:20:06,929 Speaker 3: greatest news possible that Jesus is alive and wants to 321 00:20:06,950 --> 00:20:09,609 Speaker 3: give us life too. Thanks again for joining me on 322 00:20:09,790 --> 00:20:12,690 Speaker 3: the Jesus Podcast. We'll continue to press on to the 323 00:20:12,710 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 3: miracles of the Messiah, learning new and wonderful insights about 324 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,580 Speaker 3: our Lord, and perhaps about ourselves.