Jesus Still Says "Ephphata: Be Opened"

We live in the most amazing times. When I was a kid, if someone had a phone in his car, it meant that he was very rich. Now I bet most of you have a phone in your pocket or purse. When I was a kid, computers took up whole buildings. Now we can carry them in our briefcases. When I was young, we all watched and marveled when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Now we don’t go to the moon anymore, not because we can’t, but because it’s not that big a deal. I could go on and on, listing all the amazing things that are happening in our world.

Yet what’s most amazing to me is that none of this seems to amaze us anymore. We’ve become so used to new discoveries that they no longer surprise us. No one even pays attention when the space shuttle blasts off—unless something goes wrong. We’re only amazed by our powerful desktop computers when they don’t work, or they don’t operate fast enough. This begs the question:

“Does Anything Amaze You Anymore?”

Have we Lost a Sense of Amazement When it Comes to our God?

Our text tells the story of a deaf man brought to Jesus by some friends (Mark 7:31–32).

With a sigh and a word of command, Jesus heals the man (Mark 7:33-35)

His ears are completely opened.

The man begins to speak plainly.

The crowds who witness the miracle are said to be so amazed they won’t stop talking about what they have seen Jesus do (Mark 7:36-37)

Mark also gives us a deep insight into the emotions of the Savior, a glimpse indeed into the very heart of God. Jesus looks up into heaven and utters a deep sigh. We are reminded by the mood, if not the exact words, of the scene in John 11 where Jesus is at the tomb of his beloved friend Lazarus. Here we witness the profound sympathy of the God-man over our earthly troubles. The preacher would do well to note the theological parallels in Hebrews 2:14-18

Hebrews 2:14–18 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He indeed is the “man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isa 53:3). Jesus agonizes over the results of the fall in the physical suffering of mankind, profoundly moved by what is rather than what might have been.

In contrast to the healed man and the crowd, we often seem to find it pretty easy to keep our mouths shut about our God. Are we no longer amazed by him?

We seem to find it easier to talk about sports, or the news or the latest hot television show than we do about the true God.

For example, do you find it easier and more enjoyable to discuss what’s happening with the Brewers, or how the Packers will do this season. We are still consumed with Coronavirus, and how it effecting the population. Then there’s plenty to talk about in the Political world, and the tragic results in Afghanistan.

And yet, because of these things and so many more, we miss opportunities to talk about Jesus. Let say you run up on someone who is afraid of dying: how easy it is for us to simply recite the blessed words of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believe in Me, though he dies, let shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”

The word translated as “deaf” in today’s text can also be translated “dull” or “blunt.” So let me ask, has your faith become dull?

Does your conscience no longer bother you when you do wrong? Like, for example, when you cuss, swear, tell or laugh at a dirty joke?

Has going to church, attending Bible study, or reading the Word become a chore?

When our hearts are deaf to our amazing God, then it is no wonder our witness is mute as well! In this case, we are in trouble at the very depths of our soul.

When that Happens, There is Only One Place to Go.

This deaf man’s friends brought him to Jesus.

They plead for Jesus to lay hands on the man.

Through his word of power, Jesus opens the man’s ears and loosens his tongue.

Our Lord still works in people’s lives through his Word!

That’s why you are encouraged to regularly attend the Divine Service, to be in the Word in your daily devotion, attend a Bible class — the means by which our Lord does His work.

Through His Word, Jesus speaks His powerful, life-changing “Be opened” to your heart and mine.

With the Law, He exposes our spiritual deafness.

With the Gospel, he tells the amazing story of his love for us in manger and cross and empty tomb. With that message, He sends the Holy Spirit to open your heart. He makes your sin-dulled ears to hear clearly again the Good News of his love and forgiveness.

Through his Word, our Lord is able to amaze when no one else can.

Hearing what God has done in Scripture opens our eyes and ears to the amazing things Jesus did in his death and resurrection and is even now doing in our lives. This truth spoke to our Brother in Christ Ron Clutter, when he was convalescing from his leg-surgery. Jesus came to him in the repetitive reading of Daniel 3, and Jesus reassured him continually that he is not suffering alone; Christ Jesus was with him in the midst of it all, just like He was with the three boys in Daniel 3.

Most amazing of all there still remains the future we can’t yet see and can only hear about: the eternal beauty and joy and love and delight of heaven. Oh, will that amaze us!—and in ways, so we hear, that can’t now even be put into words (2 Cor 12:3–4)!

In our text, the people were so amazed that, like the deaf man, their tongues were loosed and they couldn’t stop talking about what they had seen Jesus do. Even so can God amaze us, so that we can’t help talking about what Jesus has done.

God is doing amazing things in our lives. “Ephphatha!” he says to you and me. He has opened your eyes and ears to be amazed! He will unloose your tongue to tell the world what he has done for you!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.