Trinity 12 August 22, 2021
Mark 7:31-37
Hard of Hearing?
v.32 And they brought to Him [Jesus] a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged Him to lay His hand on him.
Dear friends in Christ, how's your hearing? Now I know that some of you wear hearing aids regularly to help you hear better. I also know that some of us may not be there yet, but our own hearing is slowly deteriorating and we have to continually turn up the TV or turn on the subtitles to be able to enjoy watching our favourite shows. And some others of you enjoy very good hearing with no problems whatsoever--be thankful!
In our Gospel reading today we heard of a man who was deaf and could not speak very well. The crowd of the Decapolis (10 cities) brought this man to Jesus to see what He could/would do. The crowd was anticipating another great show of Jesus performing miracles. He was the hottest ticket in town--bigger than Celine Dion in Las Vegas!
This poor man was completely deaf. He couldn't hear a blessed thing. He couldn't speak very well. Communication with those around him was probably quite difficult overall. What does Jesus do? Does He indulge the crowd in their thirst for a good show? Not really. He takes the man aside and uses simple sign language to communicate to him exactly what was about to take place. Touching the man's ears and tongue the man realizes that Jesus is going to do something to heal those parts of his body that don't work properly. And then, Jesus speaks a simple word, "Ephphatha, be opened." And with that not only are the man's ears opened to hear once more, but his tongue is freed from its impediment as well. A true miracle is worked and the crowd rejoices along with this man at the great work of God.
So...how's your hearing? Not just physically, meaning can you hear through the normal decibel range of human beings, but how is your hearing when it is God speaking? Not so good, huh? Me either. You see, we are all by nature deaf toward God--we have trouble hearing Him speak to us--either because of our own sin--or because of the sinful world around us. We are sometimes surrounded by such sorrow and pain that we know not where to turn and can't seem to make sense of anything around us.
As a result of our poor hearing of God and His Word of truth we are also, therefore, unable to confess the faith rightly. Our sinful nature often turns us inwardly upon ourselves--our own wants--our own desires--and turns a deaf ear toward the Lord God. We can become so wrapped up in our own predicaments--in our own lives--that we fail to take note of the lives of those around us. Lives that are often touched by heartache, sorrow, and death. Faced with the awful reality of sin in the world, we can become deaf not only to the voice of God, bringing His Life and Truth, but to the cries of those around us as well.
Our speech is reflective of this as well. We tend to first ask questions like, "How can the church serve me? What do I get out of church? How is God and His church going to do what I want? Make my life more full and rich the way I want it to be?" Rather, than asking, "What can I do to serve my church and my family and my community? How may I use the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with in service toward others instead of just me?"
You see, when God's Word is preached to us, our sinful nature reacts by trying either to change it so it says what we want it to say--or to ignore the parts that we don't like. It's kinda like when children are frustrated and they put their fingers in their ears and shout, "No, no, no, I can't hear you, I can't hear you..." that is us, dear friends. You and me, by nature, want nothing to do with God--don't even want to listen to what He has to say. We are steeped in our sin and go blindly toward hell and damnation--turning a deaf ear to all the warning calls that God is placing before us. And worse, missing out on the wonderful comfort He wants to share with us.
Into this dire situation enters the Lord Jesus. God's only beloved Son. The Word of God made flesh. He is One who speaks with power and authority. His Gospel message of His saving grace for all people in the blood of His cross unstops our ears--opens our hearts--frees our tongues. His message of forgiveness for all sin changes us so that we can hear His Word and receive it with joy and thanksgiving. Indeed, the Gospel moves us to respond in joy with words of prayer and praise for the Holy One of Israel who has done all things well.
In Holy Baptism, water that has been sanctified with Jesus' Word is applied to the individual person--creating faith in their hearts on the day of their Baptism--and sustaining it all the days of their lives. Jesus has put His fingers into your ears and touched your tongue when you were baptized. Your ears, beloved, have been opened to hear and receive the Word of Christ--both His Law and His Gospel. And your mouth is free to confess the saving faith of Jesus Christ crucified for you and me and all people. We can sing His praises and shout for joy in the triumph of His cross and empty tomb. For in Baptism, His death for sin has become yours and His resurrection from the grave is also yours.
In Mark's Gospel we have seen the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 29 that "the deaf shall hear the words of a book," fulfilled. You have also been recipients of God's grace and mercy in Christ, beloved. He who scorned the cross and shame--breathed His last in a great big sigh--for you. He has bled and died so that your ears and lips may be opened and your mouths may declare His praise. By His power, you have been changed, transformed. Now, we do not first and foremost look to our own desires and wants, but that of our neighbour. Now, we do not speak our own praises and listen to our own hearts, but rather hear the Word of God, believe it, and praise the name of the Triune Majesty.
The sin and death that closed your ears and tied up your tongue have been loosed--opened by the redeeming Word of Christ that says, "You are forgiven. You are healed. You are saved and guaranteed a place by My side in eternal glory." Beloved, what joy this brings to our broken hearts closed by sin. For in Christ all things are made new. In Christ Jesus' love and mercy, even miserable sinners like you and me are given hope and peace--by His blood that He willingly shed on the cross for you and me.
Our eyes, ears, mouth and hearts have now been opened by this saving Word of Jesus. Opened to receive His blessings with joy and thanksgiving. Opened to look with compassion and mercy upon our neighbour in need, whomever they may be. And each time sin, death, and the devil try to close our ears to Christ's good Word, He comes over and over again in His Gospel preached and His body and blood delivered into your mouth--to feed you with His life and salvation—so opening your ears to joyfully receive His Word—and unstopping your mouth to declare His praise unto all the world. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen
Mark 7:31-37
Hard of Hearing?
v.32 And they brought to Him [Jesus] a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged Him to lay His hand on him.
Dear friends in Christ, how's your hearing? Now I know that some of you wear hearing aids regularly to help you hear better. I also know that some of us may not be there yet, but our own hearing is slowly deteriorating and we have to continually turn up the TV or turn on the subtitles to be able to enjoy watching our favourite shows. And some others of you enjoy very good hearing with no problems whatsoever--be thankful!
In our Gospel reading today we heard of a man who was deaf and could not speak very well. The crowd of the Decapolis (10 cities) brought this man to Jesus to see what He could/would do. The crowd was anticipating another great show of Jesus performing miracles. He was the hottest ticket in town--bigger than Celine Dion in Las Vegas!
This poor man was completely deaf. He couldn't hear a blessed thing. He couldn't speak very well. Communication with those around him was probably quite difficult overall. What does Jesus do? Does He indulge the crowd in their thirst for a good show? Not really. He takes the man aside and uses simple sign language to communicate to him exactly what was about to take place. Touching the man's ears and tongue the man realizes that Jesus is going to do something to heal those parts of his body that don't work properly. And then, Jesus speaks a simple word, "Ephphatha, be opened." And with that not only are the man's ears opened to hear once more, but his tongue is freed from its impediment as well. A true miracle is worked and the crowd rejoices along with this man at the great work of God.
So...how's your hearing? Not just physically, meaning can you hear through the normal decibel range of human beings, but how is your hearing when it is God speaking? Not so good, huh? Me either. You see, we are all by nature deaf toward God--we have trouble hearing Him speak to us--either because of our own sin--or because of the sinful world around us. We are sometimes surrounded by such sorrow and pain that we know not where to turn and can't seem to make sense of anything around us.
As a result of our poor hearing of God and His Word of truth we are also, therefore, unable to confess the faith rightly. Our sinful nature often turns us inwardly upon ourselves--our own wants--our own desires--and turns a deaf ear toward the Lord God. We can become so wrapped up in our own predicaments--in our own lives--that we fail to take note of the lives of those around us. Lives that are often touched by heartache, sorrow, and death. Faced with the awful reality of sin in the world, we can become deaf not only to the voice of God, bringing His Life and Truth, but to the cries of those around us as well.
Our speech is reflective of this as well. We tend to first ask questions like, "How can the church serve me? What do I get out of church? How is God and His church going to do what I want? Make my life more full and rich the way I want it to be?" Rather, than asking, "What can I do to serve my church and my family and my community? How may I use the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with in service toward others instead of just me?"
You see, when God's Word is preached to us, our sinful nature reacts by trying either to change it so it says what we want it to say--or to ignore the parts that we don't like. It's kinda like when children are frustrated and they put their fingers in their ears and shout, "No, no, no, I can't hear you, I can't hear you..." that is us, dear friends. You and me, by nature, want nothing to do with God--don't even want to listen to what He has to say. We are steeped in our sin and go blindly toward hell and damnation--turning a deaf ear to all the warning calls that God is placing before us. And worse, missing out on the wonderful comfort He wants to share with us.
Into this dire situation enters the Lord Jesus. God's only beloved Son. The Word of God made flesh. He is One who speaks with power and authority. His Gospel message of His saving grace for all people in the blood of His cross unstops our ears--opens our hearts--frees our tongues. His message of forgiveness for all sin changes us so that we can hear His Word and receive it with joy and thanksgiving. Indeed, the Gospel moves us to respond in joy with words of prayer and praise for the Holy One of Israel who has done all things well.
In Holy Baptism, water that has been sanctified with Jesus' Word is applied to the individual person--creating faith in their hearts on the day of their Baptism--and sustaining it all the days of their lives. Jesus has put His fingers into your ears and touched your tongue when you were baptized. Your ears, beloved, have been opened to hear and receive the Word of Christ--both His Law and His Gospel. And your mouth is free to confess the saving faith of Jesus Christ crucified for you and me and all people. We can sing His praises and shout for joy in the triumph of His cross and empty tomb. For in Baptism, His death for sin has become yours and His resurrection from the grave is also yours.
In Mark's Gospel we have seen the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 29 that "the deaf shall hear the words of a book," fulfilled. You have also been recipients of God's grace and mercy in Christ, beloved. He who scorned the cross and shame--breathed His last in a great big sigh--for you. He has bled and died so that your ears and lips may be opened and your mouths may declare His praise. By His power, you have been changed, transformed. Now, we do not first and foremost look to our own desires and wants, but that of our neighbour. Now, we do not speak our own praises and listen to our own hearts, but rather hear the Word of God, believe it, and praise the name of the Triune Majesty.
The sin and death that closed your ears and tied up your tongue have been loosed--opened by the redeeming Word of Christ that says, "You are forgiven. You are healed. You are saved and guaranteed a place by My side in eternal glory." Beloved, what joy this brings to our broken hearts closed by sin. For in Christ all things are made new. In Christ Jesus' love and mercy, even miserable sinners like you and me are given hope and peace--by His blood that He willingly shed on the cross for you and me.
Our eyes, ears, mouth and hearts have now been opened by this saving Word of Jesus. Opened to receive His blessings with joy and thanksgiving. Opened to look with compassion and mercy upon our neighbour in need, whomever they may be. And each time sin, death, and the devil try to close our ears to Christ's good Word, He comes over and over again in His Gospel preached and His body and blood delivered into your mouth--to feed you with His life and salvation—so opening your ears to joyfully receive His Word—and unstopping your mouth to declare His praise unto all the world. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen