Mark 7:31-37 Prep

Preparation

Pray

Lord, open our ears to hear from you. Show us your glory. In your name, amen.

Just Meditate

Questions for the passage / first illumination

What is the significance of his travel locations?

He was brought by friends to Jesus. Why did he not desire to come himself?

He never audibly heard of Jesus

Unable to hear and speak clearly

Jesus was not motivated to make a spectacle. His motives were pure.

Why did he take him aside?

Why was he so physical in his approach?

What was the point of spitting?

Why did he sigh?

I wonder what he spoke? I wonder how he felt?

Why did Jesus charge them to tell no one?

It seems like he had to do this repeatedly

They couldn’t help themselves…

They were suspicious that he was indeed the messiah.

Mood/Emotion of the Passage

Overflowing with astonishment.

Surprising and unexpected.

Word-studies

None for now

“Be opened”

Cross References / Passages that illustrate

None for now

Commentary

Context / Overview

Versus

31

“continues into another Gentile region, the Decapolis.” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mk 7:31–37.

33

“Then Jesus communicated with him in a way that he could understand. Is not this like Jesus? He meets us where we are so he can take us where he wants us to go.” Rodney L. Cooper, Mark, vol. 2, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 121.

“In each case Christ adapted Himself to the need of the man.” (Morgan)

34

“Looking up to heaven is a sign of prayer (see note at 6:41). Sighed deeply indicates Jesus’s deep emotional involvement.” Mark Ross H. McLaren, “Mark,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1572.

36

“Jesus probably gives this instruction to the man and the people who brought him, in order to conceal His identity until the proper time” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mk 7:36.

“Jesus did not want people to follow Him because of His miracles; but the more He told people to keep quiet, the more they talked! On the other hand, He tells us to tell everyone the Good News, and we keep quiet!” Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 121.

37

“The people are astonished in the sense that they wonder whether Jesus is the Messiah. They are not expecting a suffering Messiah but rather a political liberator along the lines of the earlier Maccabean uprising.” - esv study

Application

Relational application (love your neighbor)

Bring to Christ those who have never heard. He knows how to care for them.

Sometimes, to heal others, we need to get up close and personal.

Thinking application (mind)

Some physical battles are spiritually overcome

Feeling application (heart, soul)

Is your heart open to the power of God?

Jesus wants to care for you, he sees you in the crowd

Jesus feels.

Action application (strength)

Illustration

Verbal Illustrations

We don’t like watching a show with low volume… Imagine living your whole life on mute.

The grinch, “solve world hunger, tell no one.”

Talk about my Poland syndrome and scoliosis

Visual Illustrations

Audience

pains/problems

Some are confused by their physical problems

Some think that Jesus does not care about them personally

Some are put-off by how religious leaders seek to be famous

passions/purposes

Some may want to be healed

Questions/arguments they may have for the text

Why did he pull him aside?

Why did he use spit?

Why did he command them to tell no one?

Pre outline

Main Ideas of the text

Jesus is able to set us free from what holds us back. He knows how to care for us individually. He wants to help us, to help us (he’s not in it for fame or drama)

So what?

Jesus cares about your burdens and is able to heal you.

What would this look like lived out?

We would bring our friends to Jesus.

We would be willing to get up close and personal.

We would share the good news with others

Title ideas

Up close and personal with God

The weirdest healing in the bible

Jesus sighed

Two Sides of the Same Jesus

Potential Outlines

Jesus separated. Jesus spit. Jesus sighed. Jesus silenced.

Jesus cares for us individually. Jesus heals us specifically. Jesus helps us selflessly.

His motives are pure. His methods are intentional. His heart is open to you. His power is available to you.

He feels. He heals.

Bring your friends. Get up close and personal. His motives are pure.