Tuesday 16 November 2021

Psalm 37:12-29

Background

Having spent some time on his own in the area of Tyre to the west of Galilee, according to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus next appears on the eastern side of the lake; such a journey by foot, via Sidon further north, would have taken him many months. The Decapolis was an important trading region linked by ten cities and they enjoyed certain freedoms not encouraged by the Romans in other parts of Judea. The link with yesterday’s reading is that Jesus is in another Gentile environment. This appears to reinforce Mark’s intention to point to Jesus having a ministry beyond traditional Jewish lands and people.

The healing itself is a lovely illustration of how Jesus dealt with people on an individual basis, as indeed he does with us today. “He took him aside in private, away from the crowd…” (v. 33). Jesus is not involved in a public demonstration of his divine power, but has concern for this deaf and mute man as an individual. He leads him away. It is a tender, caring moment. We all know what it feels like when someone responds to our individual need. Jesus loves us as unique individuals.

The healing itself is something of a mixture. Saliva was certainly held to have healing properties in that part of the world at this time. However, perhaps the most significant verse is, “Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'be opened.'” (v. 34) This invocation of something beyond himself is typical of Jesus, knowing he needs to draw on the totality of divine power, rather than draw all the attention to himself alone.

After the healing, quite naturally the crowd wants to spread the word about this miracle, but Jesus “ordered them to tell no one.”(v. 36). Why? Surely Jesus was demonstrating more and more qualities of the hoped-for Messiah. Anyone with a knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures would know Isaiah 35:5-6 and link it with what they had just witnessed. No wonder they say, “He has done everything well”(v. 37), a clear link with Genesis 1. However, faced with this growing awareness of his divinity, Jesus would prefer his growing number of followers not to proclaim him. Or rather, not until there was greater understanding of his mission.

Jesus knew that the time of complete revelation was 'not yet', and yet the signs of his kingdom were becoming more and more obvious.

To Ponder: 

• How do we as a Church respond to those who cannot hear or cannot speak for themselves, or need to communicate in ways that we do not fully understand?
• Quietly meditate on StF 248 'I heard the voice of Jesus say' and give thanks for the relationship we are all able to enjoy as we open ourselves to his love.