Healing of the Speech-Impeded Deaf Person.

(Mat 15:29-31; Mark 7:31-37.

The Lord came through the borders of the Decapolis from Phoenicia, to the Lake of Galilee. This land represented a union of ten cities, which, with the exception of the city Scythopolis, was situated east of the lake of Galilee; from the time of Assyrian bondage of Jews, the land was populated essentially by heathens. On the way, the Lord healed a speech-impeded deaf individual, which is narrated by Evangelist Mark only. Usually, the Lord healed with His word. However, this time He led the afflicted person to one side — apparently to avert idle curiosity from the semi-heathen crowd — inserted His fingers into the ailing person’s ears, and having spat, touched his tongue: apparently all this was done so as to arouse faith in the sick person — an essential prerequisite for healing — inasmuch as being deaf, it was impossible to communicate with him. Looking up to heaven He sighed in prayer, so as to make clear to the surrounding people that He is healing through Divine — and certainly not through demon’s power, as was circulated by the Pharisees’ rumors. Having pronounced authoritatively “Ephphatha” (Mark 7:34), meaning “open” in Syrian, the Lord healed him. As usual, He commanded the surrounding eyewitnesses not to tell anyone, perhaps in this instance, so as not to excite the people and thereby provoke the Pharisees further against Himself. But no matter how much He prohibited this, the more the eyewitnesses spoke and repeated about the miracle. According to Saint Matthew, having traveled through Decapolis, the Lord arrived at Lake Galilee, more than likely, from the east or northeast. Here, as usual, masses of people awaited and followed Him, and wherever He stayed, there was an instant congregation of people. He was brought the lame, blind, mute, maimed and those suffering with different types of illnesses. Their faith in Christ’s miraculous power was so great that they didn’t ask Him for anything, but just silently placed the ill at His feet, “and He healed them” (Mat. 15:30). In witnessing these miracles, the people “glorified the God of Israel (Mat. 15:31), regarding Him as their own God — that of the chosen people.