Imagine that you can’t hear well and can’t express what you want to say when speaking. Imagine that your mind is in working order. It must be frustrating. Jesus was presented such a man. Mark records interesting detail. Jesus stuck his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spat (spittle has great healing properties) and touched the man’s tongue. He said, “Be opened.” And they were.
You could say, “Well this is just another one of Jesus’ miracles,” and then go on with life. Think about the people in the Bible that God tapped to be messengers and couldn’t talk. Moses. Jeremiah. You? God found a way for each.
Listening and speaking go together–actually listening first. I see the wrong side among salespeople all the time. They speak first, then listen–if they listen at all. If you first listen to God, then you know what to say and to whom to speak. God will tell you. If you listen to others, they will tell you their hurts and needs. Only then can you speak God’s message of hope and healing to them.
I don’t think it’s coincidence that Mark included this story in great detail when he obviously left a lot of things out. Listening and speaking are important. The Jewish people had stopped listening to God. They had stopped speaking for God. It was time for healing. Same can probably be said for us. We live in a time of spiritual searching, much like the first century. Some will be able to listen to the call of God and the needs of people. They will, with the help and grace of God, be able to speak healing words. It could be you.
Listen! Speak!
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment