May 7, 2022 -- Mark 7:31-37 -- Jesus Does ALL Things Well
/People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Mark 7:31-37 ESV
Jesus strictly commanded those He’d healed not to tell others about Him. Notice that it is the whole of Jesus’ ministry that has the crowds talking and telling others; they declare "He has done all things well". From the start of Jesus' ministry the people reported of Jesus “He speaks as one Who has authority” (Mark 1:22). What impressed the people? It was the fact that He communicated the Word of God to the people of God. It was electrifying for them. They could not keep it to themselves.
Dear family in Christ, is that your experience of Jesus? Do you read of Him in the Bible, hear Him preached about on Sunday and does the Spirit so capture your heart that you can’t help but talk about Him? I ask that, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, pretty much aware of the answer already. Why is it that our experience of Jesus, in our personal times with Him each day, our Sunday times with Him, and our family devotion times do not motivate us to go out and tell the world? What has made your time with Him so stale that you are not declaring Him to all?
Pray for the Spirit’s work to reawaken your soul to delight in the Savior. Examine your life to see what sin might be hindering your walk with God. Then confess it, praying for forgiveness and strength to turn from it. Spend time with Christians whose walk you admire so that you will grow in delight of the LORD and boldly proclaim Him. Like the crowds that first encountered him, tell everyone you meet, Jesus has done all things well.
Recite this passage of Zephaniah as a poem of praise to God our Father and as a song of instruction, teaching you Who you are in Christ. Then powered by the Spirit, rejoice and the tell others what all the LORD our God is doing.
Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
17 The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.[c]
19 Behold, at that time I will deal
with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.
Zephaniah 3:14-20 ESV
https://youtu.be/MZmS81yLjMg
Copyright © 2022 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.