Put Your Fingers in His Ears

Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn't speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't 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 

Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns. A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him. Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man's tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, "Ephphatha," which means, "Be opened!" Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly! Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. 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 7:31-37

 

Meditate on Jesus’ healing methods.

 

Matthew and Mark don’t quite agree on the place in this story. Whether it was in Sidon, north of Tyre, or by the Sea of Galilee, it doesn’t matter. This was another example of great miracles of healing by Jesus.

Do you know any deaf people? Lots of people are now wearing hearing aids as our hearing gives out as we get older, but this young man was truly deaf. I have known a couple of people who were deaf at birth, but I never learned sign language to communicate with them. They were great lip readers. Usually, it’s not just their hearing that is impaired, but also their speech, since we learn to speak by hearing others and ourselves make particular sounds. This deaf man had the same problem.

Jesus is so amazing. He put His fingers into the man’s ears. Can you imagine the power going through that guy’s head? Then, Jesus spit on His own fingers and touched the man’s tongue. He sighed. Sighed. Was He sad? Exasperated? He knew that once that guy could speak, he would tell everyone what had happened to him! Jesus gave the command, “Be opened!” Sure enough. That young man could hear and speak normally!

Don’t tell. But everyone in the crowd was amazed and you just know that the news spread quickly. Don’t tell. Jesus kept pleading with people not to tell—but no one could keep secret this good news of the miraculous healing. There were no secrets with the celebration of healing…and opportunity for more of the same! Those who hadn't 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. Are you praising God for these miraculous healings, too?

What do we learn about Jesus from these scripture passages?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You are amazing. I recognize, appreciate, and praise You for Your continued compassion. These people were so eager to receive Your healing. Their faith was enormous. Are we lacking faith today?  

 

Verses of Salvation ~ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

When was the last time you made bread or rolls? In our study of Jesus, He will soon be “making bread” to feed 4,000 men and their families. It is pretty well known that sour dough bread is one of the best and most digestible bread these days. During Jesus’ time, bread was probably like the Naan or pita bread that we might eat today.

 

Give us today the food we need…give us this day our daily bread.

One of my family’s favorites, usually over the holidays, has been 60-minute rolls.

 

60 Minute Wheat Rolls

2 pkgs. Active quick-rise dry yeast
3 Tbsp. sugar or honey
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. powdered milk (optional)
1 1/2 c. hot tap water

2 Tbsp softened butter or olive oil, at room temperature
4 to 4 1/2 c. unsifted flour (half wheat and half white)

 

Thoroughly mix 1 cup flour and dry ingredients. Gradually add water and butter to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Add remaining flour and beat to make soft dough. Place in greased bowl, cover, and rise 15 minutes. Turn out onto floured board. Knead about 5 minutes, until not sticky. Shape dough into rolls and place on greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise again for about 15 minutes. Bake at 400 degree Fahrenheit oven about 12 minutes (depends on the size of the rolls). Makes 16-20 rolls.  

 

[Quantities adjusted from an original recipe baked by the chef at a Larry Burkett Financial Planning Workshop, in Georgia, 1988.] 

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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