JESUS AND THE DEAF MAN Mark 7:31-37
BACKGROUND: The man in the passage had most likely been deaf from his early childhood, since he could not talk properly. He had never been able to communicate with others since there was no common sign language at that time. 700 years earlier, Isaiah had prophesized that the Messiah would “make deaf people hear and mute people talk” (verse 37, cf. Isaiah 35:5).
1. What would be the hardest thing for you if you suddenly lost your hearing?
2.
• Try to imagine what the man’s childhood had been like.
• What means did the parents have for raising their child, protecting him from harm, teaching him an occupation etc.?
• What kind of relationship had the man possibly had with his peers as a child?
• How may he have perceived himself as a child?
3.
• What was the deaf man’s everyday life like compared to that of his peers?
• The deaf man had probably been taken to the synagogue and temple at some point – how much do you think he knew about matters of faith?
4.
• What could have been the motive of the people taking him to Jesus (verse 32)? Think about different possibilities.
• How may they have tried to explain to him where they were taking him and why?
• What did the deaf man possibly feel in the middle of a crowd?
5.
• At that time, healers usually laid their hands on the sick person. Why didn’t Jesus heal the man the way those bringing him wanted (verses 32b and 34)?
• What did it reveal about the deaf man that he did not object but followed a rabbi who was unknown to him (verse 33)?
6.
• Why did Jesus take the man away from the crowd (verse 33a)?
• Saliva was considered a remedy at the time. What did Jesus want to communicate to the deaf man by putting his fingers in the man’s ears and by touching his tongue with the saliva (verse 33)?
• What did Jesus want to say to the man, who did not understand speech, by looking at the sky?
• What did Jesus want to say to the man by sighing?
7.
• It usually takes a child three years to learn the main vocabulary of his or her first language. How is it possible for this man to “learn” to speak fluently in just one moment?
8.
• Why would Jesus have preferred people not talk about his miracles?
• What “news” would Jesus rather have them tell their friends?
• Why did the people not care about Jesus’ requests to keep silent of this and his other miracles (verse 36)?
• Do you think it would be beneficial for the Christian church to advertise its miracles in the media?
10.
• What did the people think about Jesus now; did they believe that he was the Messiah (verse 37)? Justify your answer.
GLAD TIDINGS: The deep communication between Jesus and his Father was disconnected when Jesus was on the cross. This was the price that Jesus had to pay for us sinners to be able to speak to God and hear His voice in the Bible. What does this fact mean to you?
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