Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
Mark 7:31-32
After delivering the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician mother in Tyre, on the coast of present-day Lebanon, Jesus crossed from the Mediterranean coastland through the high range of Galilean hills, and descended to the lake nestled at 650 feet below sea level.
We don’t know for sure the road juncture He next took. He could have kept going straight south to the one Decapolis city on the western side of the Jordan River, Scythopolis (ancient Beth Shean). More likely, Jesus headed to the remaining nine cities of the Decapolis that lay to the east of the Lake of Galilee and Jordan River. Either way, He was in Gentile territory.
His venture into a non-Jewish area was a precursor to sending His disciples to the entire world. The message Jesus brings can’t be limited to one ethnicity or one small geographical territory. In the Gentile area of the Decapolis, His whereabouts again became known. People brought a deaf person to Jesus, begging Him to place His hand on the man.
As you follow Mark’s gospel, you can’t help but note how instrumental family and friends were in bringing people with desperate needs to Jesus.
- Others told Him about the high fever of Peter’s mother-in-law (1:30).
- Four men dropped a paralytic through a roof (2:3).
- Jairus’ pleaded for his dying daughter (5 :2 2 –2 3 ).
- The Syro-Phoenician mother pled for her demon possessed daughter (7:26).
- People brought the deaf and nearly mute person to Jesus (7:32).
On these five occasions, three involved relatives bringing the need to Jesus and two involved friends. These instances from the gospel of Mark encourage us that we are also welcome to bring Him the needs of others that weigh heavily on our hearts.
We should also notice that Jesus’ healing and deliverance ministry reached beyond the borders of ethnicity to include the Gerasene demoniac (5:1ff.), the Syro-Phoenician daughter (7:24ff.), and this deaf man. His love and power reaches out to people who are outside the faith. He gives to all from His amazing grace.
Finally, we should also note that the people who brought the deaf man “begged” Jesus to place His hand on him. The term begged is also used of the Syro-Phoenician mother (7:26). What’s going on?
I suspect that Mark is letting us know that as Jesus’ ministry progressed, persistent faith on the part of the recipient or the recipient’s family and friends became a more important factor in healing and deliverance. If you skip ahead to Mark 8:22, you will see again this word begged in reference to those who brought the blind man for Jesus to heal.
Certainly, we don’t understand all the mysteries involved in our prayers for the sick. But this we do know—Jesus also asks us to come with earnest faith as we bring Him the needs of our family and friends.
A Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to you today with my list of family and friends who need Your help. Lay Your hands upon them today and grant them Your mercy.
Excerpted from Dr. Wood’s book, Fearless: How Jesus Changes Everything, available from Vital Resources.
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