Mr. Wonderful

³⁶ Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more He told them not to, the more they spread the news. ³⁷ They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything He does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.” Mark 7:36-37 (NLT)

After Jesus healed a little girl of unclean spirits, He left from Tyre and went into Sidon. Then, Jesus went back to the Sea of Galilee by way of Decapolis — the ten Gentile communities east of the Jordan River (Mark 7:31; see also Matthew 4:25). Once again, Jesus was in Gentile territory. Everywhere Jesus went in the first century, people were amazed by Him (e.g. see Mark 1:22; Mark 2:12; Mark 5:20, 42; Mark 6:2, 51; Mark 7:37; Mark 12:17; Mark 15:5).

As Jesus ministered during His public ministry on earth, vast crowds brought Him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who could not speak, and many others, and laid them before Jesus, and He healed them all (Matthew 15:30; see also Matthew 4:23-24). Jesus never turned away the needy and disabled, but He blessed them according to their needs (e.g. Matthew 9:35-36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41; Mark 6:34; Mark 8:2). Then, a deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to Jesus, and everyone begged Jesus to lay His hands on the man and heal him (Mark 7:32). Jesus led the deaf man away from the crowd (Mark 7:33). Then, Jesus placed His fingers into the deaf man’s ears, spat and touched the man’s tongue with the spittle (Mark 7:33). Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed and commanded, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”) (Mark 7:34). Instantly, the deaf man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly! (Mark 7:35). Everyone was amazed with excitement when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing (Matthew 15:31). The Gentile crowds praised and glorified the God of Israel because such extraordinary power comes only from God. (Matthew 15:31; see also 1 Corinthians 10:31).

Jesus told the crowd not to spread the news, but the more He forbade them, the more people made Jesus known to others (Mark 7:36; see also Mark 1:44-45). The people were overcome with utter amazement because of Jesus (Mark 7:37). Again and again the people said, “Everything He (Jesus) does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak” (Mark 7:37, NLT). Jesus was doing what God had promised through the prophet Isaiah (e.g., see Isaiah 29:18-21; Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1). The prophet Isaiah predicted that spiritual and physical healing and restoration would be linked to Jesus the Messiah (e.g., see Matthew 11:4-6; Matthew 15:31; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:18-19; Luke 4:40-41; Luke 7:22-23). The true and living God brought glory to His Son and Servant Jesus – the Author of Life (Acts 3:13, 15). “Jesus is the only One who can save people. His Name is the only power in the world that has been given to save people. We must be saved through Him” (Acts 4:12 (NCV). Through faith in the Name of Jesus, everyone can receive their healing and restoration (Acts 3:16). Salvation comes from no other name!

²⁹ Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. ³⁰ A vast crowd brought to Him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who could not speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and He healed them all. ³¹ The crowd was amazed! Those who had not been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. Matthew 15:29-31 (NLT)

Even today, Jesus continues His ministry of salvation – healing and restoration – to everyone who trusts and believes in Him. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Book of Acts tells of Jesus’ ministry continuing through His disciples with the help of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). On the day of Pentecost, Jesus generously made available the Holy Spirit to continue His earthly mission to the world to all who believe (Acts 2:1-4, 17-21). With the Holy Spirit, the Book of Acts revealed Jesus’ disciples healing, teaching, preaching, and casting out demons through Jesus’ Name (e.g., Acts 3:1-11). With the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus built His church as He had promised at Matthew 16:18). The first twelve chapters of the Book of Acts revealed the Apostle Peter building the church as Jesus promised (Acts 1:1—12:25) and the rest of the Book of Acts revealed Apostle Paul continuing Jesus’ ministry of teaching, preaching, healing, and casting out demons (Acts 13:1—28:31).

Apostle Peter:  ²² “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through Him, as you well know. ²³ But God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him. ²⁴ But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip. . . . ³² “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. ³³ Now He is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as He had promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. . . .  ³⁶ So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”. . .  ³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles — all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Acts 2:22-24, 32-33, 36, 38-39 (NLT)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 1988).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).