Resurrection Lutheran Church, St Catharines

"Ephphatha!" That is an Aramaic word that Jesus spoke when he healed the deaf-impeded in today’s reading. And it was translated by St Mark as "be opened," which is appropriate, because that's why Jesus came to us, and it's all over the Scriptures from the Old Testament to the New Testament. For example: Isaiah 35 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Matthew 20 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Luke 24 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.

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Things are “clear.” The bad news is that people, we sinners, are condemned to be blind and deaf. The good news is that the Lord came to us and heals us. And you know what, He did more, and like what was said at the end of today’s reading “He did all things well” — Not only did He heal us, but He also saved us "once for all." That’s it! Hallelujah! Hosanna! Everybody is happy! And that’s all for today’s sermon! Nay!! The sermon is just beginning because things are definitely not clear yet! Let's go one step further and think about it together — Why are the ears deaf and the eyes blind, and why can they only be opened by the "spitting”of the Lord?

In fact, there is another "spitting” of Jesus right after today’s reading. It is right in the next chapter, Mk 8. The one in today's reading cannot hear. The one in the next chapter cannot see. Without God's Word as input, their tongues are like tied and there is no output of any truth properly. Jesus cares for each individual, healed both of them by spitting on their ears, eyes and tongues.

 

Along with and before these two "spitting” healings, there’re two famous "feedings" — in Mk 6 the feeding of 5000 and in Mk 8 the feeding of 4000, followed by two very famous teachings to the disciples both “in the boat.” In these two "cycles" of healing, our Lord has already answered our question by clearly revealed our poor spiritual condition, as it is written in Mk 8 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

 

Do they understand? Not yet. Why? We read the answer in Mk 6 “for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” Do we understand? Not really. Why? Our hearts are also hardened! Our ears are so clogged with the voices of men, always asking for more, that there is no room for the voice of Jesus. English poet William Blake used to write, “More! More! is the cry of a mistaken soul.” This "More! More!" is just like the murmuring that blocked the ears and eyes of the entire unbelieving generation of Israelites who wandered and died in the wilderness for forty years, never setting foot in the Promised Land, including even Moses who was also deeply affected by this evil but powerful murmuring. God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap. (Gal 6:7) As Jesus said “Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” (Matt 6:2)

 

Very few of us would break out of this terrible cycle of searching for more in all kinds of wilderness and willingly turn to the cycle of Jesus' healing as this deaf man did in today's reading. It is just so hard! Dream after dream, reward after reward, we always look first for more signs and wonders — let’s be clear here — seeking dreams and rewards is not wrong. Everything comes from God. What is not right is that our ears hunger first not for God's Word, but for more miracles that we consider to be the “gospel." The truth is that we are not changed and we are still under the law. We are just like the prodigal son who squanders the inheritance, lives a life of indulgence, and is forced to work as a hired hand for a pig farmer.

 

Jesus' “healing spit” is always to put God's Word first to clear the way for ears and eyes. God's commandments are the seal of protection and approval on Him, on His every deed, every word, every thought, every mind. Before everything, He opened the seal first, He put God's Word first. Just like that. He speaks, he sighs, he prays to God first in every trouble. And why? Because this is His very own Father who set Him apart and sent Him to us in the absolute "spitting" image of the Father.

 

The spitting act of our Lord is a very intimate act with His people, and it is only recorded in such detail by St. Mark, although it is also found in Matt 15 and Jh 9, but only in a phrase without details. And as you may know, the Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the Gospel books. Why did the minimalist-minded Mark devoted so many words to the act of spitting by our Lord? The "spitting" in today's reading reminds us of how and why we were created. Not only were we created in the "spitting" image of God our Father, but spitting on someone to heal them is a very intimate fatherly act. It's very natural for parents to kiss a boo-boo to comfort their children when they fall down; When our parents kissed us, the "magic" saliva can heal "everything" from a skinned knee to a broken heart — it’s not just the saliva — it’s love and reassurance. Our Heavenly Father not only created us, but also, he takes care of us. Through the vivid act-by-act narrative of St. Mark, we feel Jesus' love vividly, as if he were opening the ears and eyes right in front of us. That's part of what St. Mark wants to tell us.

 

Compared to other Gospels, not only do we find in Mark the more vivid details that Matthew or Luke somehow left out, but the more use of Aramaic like "Ephphatha" shows the most compassionate emotion of Jesus who also tenderly said "talitha cumi" (Honey, get up) to the dead 12-year old little girl, and "Abba" (Daddy, remove this cup) in the Garden of Gethsemane, as well as the total obedience in "eloi eloi lama sabachthani" (“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”) at His last moment on the Cross.

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No. He knows that his father will never abandon him! That's why he called upon his father in every trouble. That's why he went resolutely and determinedly on his way to the Decapolis in today’s reading, to Decapolis the ten cities where the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments are abused, where the ears, the eyes, and the hearts are hardened.

 

Jesus taught us what to do with the law given by God through Moses. Instead of judging others by the Law, Jesus keeps the law. He fulfills the law. Instead of putting others on the cross, He put Himself on the cross. He paid the full price for us. This is indeed the gospel for us, but for Jesus it is a way to death. Jesus' ministry for us is what St. Paul in today's reading called "the ministry of death" as the way of fulfilling the law for us. He is the only one who can fulfill the law because He is the only innocent one. He interceded for us. He took away our sins and saved us once and for all. He opened Himself absolutely and completely to His Father. He opened the seals of the Law for us by fulfilling them. He freed us by glorifying God. He glorified God by opening himself to God's Word and putting God's Word first, before every thought, before every mind. He sanctified us by opening our ears and eyes.

 

And no. The manna that Moses gave in the wilderness is not the true bread from heaven for people will go hungry again; only through Jesus, His only Son sent to us from heaven, is the true bread that gives life to the whole world. As in Jh 6, Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again. But as I told you, you’ve seen me, and yet you do not believe.”

 

Let’s call on the name of Jesus “eloi eloi” in every need, and be obedient to God first before asking for more and more from both God and your neighbors. Listen to Jesus. Listen to His command "Ephphatha". Be opened to Him. Let His teaching clear the way for your ears and eyes. Be opened to your neighbors. Do not close your ears or eyes to their cries for help. Just as you cried "Abba" to the Heavenly Father when you were in trouble, so you may or you will hear "Talitha cumi" and be lifted up by His Word again and again.