Twelfth Sunday after Trinity (2024)

Mark 7:31-37

If you have been following along with the Gospel of Mark we had this lesson on Tuesday. When we talk about Jesus’ ministry one of the important things that we witness is the healings. That Christ restores people to health and to life. He heals them in a number of different ways. In our lesson for today we find that Jesus’ work isn’t just for the Jewish people but a light has truly come to the gentiles that they too may be saved.

The Ministry of Jesus

Jesus’ ministry includes healings.

The prophet Isaiah speaks about them in our Old Testament lesson, and that is what the people witness in the ministry of Christ and the reason that would bring to Jesus their sick, their lame, their deaf, the blind, and even the dead were raised by Christ’s work. Jesus had come to conquer the problem of Sin, and

Sin isn’t just a spiritual problem.

There is a temptation to separate the the spirit from the body and think of them as being separate and disconnected parts of who we are. Sin didn’t just affect our soul,

Sin killed body and soul.

The two are tied together, the hebrew nephesh talked refers to as as fleshly spirits, so when sin corrupted us, it affected our entire being. Both body and soul and both are subject to great danger.

Jesus came to restore creation.

When we talk about this, it isn’t just our spirit or our soul that is healed, Jesus was performing all of these healings and it shows that His Kingdom isn’t just populated by a bunch of spirits, we believe in the resurrection of the dead, which means we come back to life.

Why is there Suffering?

Sin broke creation.

When God created mankind he created everything, he declared that it was very good. The only thing that had been declared not good in the garden was that Adam was alone, and so God made a helper for him that it might be very good. It is important to understand this next point.

Suffering is not the same as evil.

It’s unpleasant, and it is the result of living in a broken world but it isn’t evil. There are times we want to know that we are suffering so we don’t make things worse. If you break a bone, you want it to hurt so you know to stop doing that.

It’s a consequence of sin.

You can’t escape it in some form or fashion. There are folks who are convinced that they can evade all suffering. They work hard to do that and try to find a life that is absolutely free from suffering, but what they are trying to do is bring heaven to earth. That is not what Christ did, and that is why in their pursuits they grow weary and give up.

Healing a Deaf Man

Jesus touches the man and heals him.

We know from other passages that Jesus was more than capable of healing a person at a distance and without them being in his presence. But here he takes the time to put his fingers in his ears, and touch His tongue and then he sighed and said to him Ephphatha. When God created mankind, God formed us from the dust of the earth. So Christ reaches out to touch those parts that have been broken to heal them. But there’s another question

How did the deaf man know?

He couldn’t hear that Jesus was in town. He could see the crowds, but that doesn’t mean he would know who it was. If you notice in v32 what it says, They brought to him a man who was deaf. Here we find that this deaf man wasn’t alone.

Those who cared for him helped.

They sought to help him in his affliction and brought him to Christ that he might be restored. For if you know of a friend who is dealing with any manner of affliction and you know that there is a man in town who can help them, if you love them you bring them to that person.

This man can now hear and give praise to God.

For this was not merely the work of a man, but Jesus has the authority and power of God in the works that he does.

Healing Body and Soul

Jesus promised us forgiveness.

This is a difficult claim to make. For how can person know whether or not this is true. So Jesus goes forth proclaiming repentance and promising to people that he would forgive the sins that they have committed against God Himself.

The Pharisees mocked Jesus about this.

For the only one that can forgive sins is the one that is the one that has been wronged. The Scriptures speak of it as a judgment and a court room. That we are found guilty of our sins before the judgment of the Holy and Righteous God. If someone is going to make the claim that they will ensure that we are declared innocent on that day, and that the debt that we owed will be satisfied. The message sounds good, but who are you to make that claim?

These miracles shows His authority.

For we can’t see the soul, and so it is easy to say that sins are forgiven, but what about telling a lame man to get up and walk? What good is it to say to a deaf man be open? When Jesus speaks His Word has authority.

The body is dying because of sin.

Body and soul are connected and bound to each other in a way we don’t entirely understand. We cannot see the healing that happens to our souls, and so Jesus performed miracles to assure people that He has the authority to forgive our sins.

Bringing the Dead to Life

The Word has the power to heal dead ears.

For we are like this deaf man, sin deadened our ears to the Word of God so that we wandered our own way and followed whatever suited our fancy. Consequently it impeded our speech for how can we pray to, glorify or praise the God we do not know and have not heard about? That is why the prayers of unbelievers go unheard, for without faith, you cannot pray. If one has faith the size of a mustard seed, then your prayers are heard.

Faith comes by hearing.

This miracle depicts the work of conversion beautifully. God sent his Son who healed your dead ears by the Spirit working through the Word and brought you to life. Well how did that happen? Well someone who knew where Christ was at, brought you to the Savior who worked upon your stubborn and sinful heart that you might be saved by Jesus.

God deals with us through the Word.

Have they not read the opening of the Gospel of JohN? In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and that Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

What about Miraculous Healings Today?

The Apostles performed some.

It wasn’t record as a widespread gift, but was given to those who were in direct contact with Jesus, like the 12 and Paul, but since then the gift has not been a guarantee. It’s not impossible, but they are no longer needed as we have the eye witness testimony of those who saw Jesus resurrection.

There are groups today who are trying to force God to perform miracles and using the Bible like a spell book saying the words over a person hoping to make it happen. They make it sound nicer than that, but there is a group who was sending out invites to churches in our area.

It is more important that we have forgiveness.

For the Forgiveness of sins that Christ secured for us on the Cross gives to you a place in His Kingdom, where all of these aches and pains will be no more. That is far more valuable, but since we are both body and soul Jesus attached His word of promise to something physical.

That’s why Jesus gave us the means of grace.

This is the way by which the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation is given to you. In Baptism, and in the Lord’s Supper. It is not the elements themselves that give the forgiveness of sins, but the Word of God that’s attached to them. These gifts are received by faith which trust the promise give to you. A person can be baptized, but no longer believes and they won’t be saved. Or a person can come up and receive the Sacrament, but if they deny it, they take it to their judgment and damnation. But to those who receive them in faith, they bring peace for God’s Word brings the dead to life.

My Brothers and Sisters, there will be a completely healing and restoration of this body in the world to come. As long as we are here, we have a body that is infected by sin and subject to suffering. We read passages like these and they remind us of Jesus’ authority, and the promises that He made, and especially the promises and Words that were spoken to you, that you were born again in Holy Baptism, and the Body and blood of Christ are given for you. Those words remind us that this suffering is temporary, and Jesus has won for you a Kingdom where all suffering will be gone forever. In Jesus Name. Amen.