Mark 7: 31 - 37
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis.
32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him.
33 And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue;
34 and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened."
35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
36 And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."
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Consider the nature of this healing:
- Christ separates the man from the multitude for a one-on-one encounter.
- He ministers directly to the ears through the senses of touch and sound.
- He ministers to the tongue through touch.
- He looked up to heaven and commanded the healing.
Christ chose to implement the healing using the the senses of touch and sound. This is exactly how the sacraments work -- we encounter Christ one-on-one, physically as well as spiritually. When we partake in the sacraments, we are following an example set by Christ Himself, nearly 2,000 years ago.
