Mark 7:24-37 (NRSV)
Read Mark 7:24-37 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.
Verse 32They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
Verse 33He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.
Verse 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."
Verse 35And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
Verse 36Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
Verse 37They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
Devotion
Who can resist sharing a tasty bit of news? You've heard that something really amazing is about to happen in your church or at your work, but the news hasn't been made public yet. You are just bursting with excitement—you just have to share this amazing news with a close friend! You swear them to secrecy, but they have their close friends they can't resist sharing with—and suddenly this private news is public. It might feel like no one was harmed in that move, but sometimes it matters how information is shared. It can be hurtful for people to hear something through the grapevine that should have been delivered by someone they know—even when the information is happy.
It doesn't make much sense why Jesus would want his healings to be secret—but this sharing of information probably made it harder for him to go places without being mobbed. Lucky for us, the love of God in Jesus doesn't have to be secret any longer—we can share this news to our hearts' content!
Prayer
God, it can be hard to keep information to ourselves. Help us to know when sharing is helpful and when it might cause difficulty. Give us courage to always share your love with others. Amen.