Jesus Healing a Deaf-Mute

Artist: Bartholomeus Breenbergh

Date: 1635

Location: Louvre Museum
Paris, France

Medium: Oil on Wood

Dimensions: 122 x 90 cm

The healing of the deaf-mute of Decapolis is a miracle in the Bible found in Mark chapter seven. When Jesus left the area of Tyre on his way to the Sea of Galilee he passed through the area of the Decapolis. (Decapolis means the Ten Cities and was located in modern day Jordan). Some people brought a nameless deaf-mute man before Christ and pleaded with him to heal their friend. Jesus took the deaf-mute aside, placed his fingers in the man’s ears, then spit and touched his tongue. With these seemingly strange actions the man was healed. Verses 34 and 35 say, “He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means, ‘Be opened!’) ₃₅At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.” After Jesus performed the miracle he told the newly healed man not to tell anyone. But the man did not listen. He told many people. They were truly amazed at the power of Christ.

As with many miracles, I have often wondered why Christ told people not to tell others about the miracles he had just accomplished. In Mark chapter one he says, “See that you do not tell anyone about this.” In Mark chapter eight he says the same thing. Why all the secrecy about the miracles? In my way of thinking, telling others would make sense. People would hear about the miracles, come to see the man who healed, and listen to him preach. It seems like it would have been a great way to get people to come and listen. However, after pondering on all the possibilities, I do not think that is what Christ wanted. Yes, he wanted people to listen to him preach, but no, he did not want them to come just for the sake of seeing a miracle. The miracles were good, but he did not want people to be focused on the miracles themselves. I think Jesus knew that people would miss the whole purpose of his coming if all they came for were the miracles. Jesus did not come to show off the powers that God the Father gave him. He came to heal our souls. And being the sinful beings that we are, it is far too easy to get caught up in the miracles instead of listening to the message.

Another reason why Christ might say “do not tell” is because he is trying to uphold the law. In Bible times, a leper is forbidden to enter a town for fear of infecting others. If the leper were to suddenly be healed he would still not be allowed to enter the town until he had offered sacrifices that Moses had commanded for cleansing. For the leper to run in to town to tell everyone would be a risk to himself and to Jesus.

This happens in Mark chapter one. After Christ heals a leper he instructs him not to tell anyone. However, the man is so overjoyed at being healed that he tells everyone he sees. Pretty soon, Jesus had to move his ministry out into the desert, away from the people. And it was all because a man told when Christ instructed him not to.

Bibliography:

The Bible

http://www.gotquestions.org/do-not-tell.html