St. John's First Ev.

Lutheran Church
MidWeek Lent III
March 30, 2011 A.D.
Mark 7:31-37

All too often texts such as our Gospel text are merely spiritualized. Yes, the man is deaf

and is either mute or has some sort of speech impediment. But to immediately run to say this

man is merely a symbol of our deafness to God's word and our inability to speak God's word

misses what Jesus is doing here. While these are certainly true and Jesus came to free us from

these conditions, this man is suffering physically from the brokenness of creation. Yes, he is a

sinner and needs the Spirit in order to believe the Gospel. And though no one here today is deaf

or mute, yet our bodies have been corrupted by sin. Our bodies suffer genetic disorders, birth

defects, they become diseased, they break down and die. This was not God's intent for our

bodies. Our bodies were made to be the crown of his creation. Now God condescends to work

with our sinful human flesh. That we continue to fill the earth is a sign of his providential care.

That our very bodies have been redeemed from all sinfulness is the work of God's mercy in

Christ.

Last week we heard that Jesus was in the region of Tyre and Sidon a Gentile region.

There he had mercy on a Gentile woman and her daughter. Following his work there, Jesus has

traveled back to Galilee, but into a predominantly Gentile area. So, most likely the man who has

been brought to Jesus is a Gentile. The mercy of God is overflowing to the Gentiles. But here

we see a different aspect of Jesus' ministry. Today we see the God who got down in the mud of

this earth and formed us. Today we see that same God in the muck and mire of this sinful

creation. He is bringing forward a foretaste of the new creation. Jesus is that God. And though

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he has yet to reconcile us to God at this point in the narrative, he is demonstrating what he has

come to do. Out of the muck and mire of this broken creation he is bringing forth a new

creation.

News of Jesus' ministry spreads fast. His reputation as a healer precedes him. Who

knows what remedies have been foisted on this deaf and mute man. Who knows what sort of

pagan rituals may have been performed on or for this man. Who knows what sort deaf and mute

idols were worshiped. But the requests fell on deaf ears. They waited for a response and got

silence. But in Jesus is a man with whom it seems that requests not only get heard, but they get

answered. Who is this Jesus? As pagans they might wonder from whence is the source of his

magic? His power? They know not, but they know his healings are miraculous.

And so they bring their friend, literally bearing him as a burden to Jesus. Jesus wants this

man to focus on him alone so he takes him aside. And God in Jesus touches his creation marred

by sin. Ears that were made to hear but were deaf. A tongue meant to speak but was hindered or

silent. Jesus gives part of himself to this man by applying spit to his tongue. And then looking

heavenward, pointing this man to the source of the gift before him, Jesus sighs. Jesus sighs for

his creation. He is anguished at the brokenness of creation. He speaks a word to his creation.

And his creation is restored. His ears at once hear. His tongue no longer impedes his speech. A

foretaste of the new creation came to this man. A foretaste of the resurrection of the body free

from the mar of sin came to this man on this day.

And in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus sighs again for a creation broken by sin. A

creation broken in spirit and body. A creation no longer in communion from God. He sighs

because he knows it is the father's will that he take on all the brokenness of creation. He must

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suffer and die on the cross so that creation might be restored to what it once was. And there on

the cross he gave not his spit for you, but his body and blood. Innocent and without blame, given

and shed for you. And in your baptism Jesus came to you and gave you his death and

resurrection. Not only putting your sin to death, but giving to you an imperishable body,

unmarred by disease, defect, or death. And on the last day your restored body will be revealed.

What was placed in the ground marred by disease, defect, and death, will be raised untouched by

sin. Your prayers to see this day will not go unheard nor unanswered. Jesus is no deaf and mute

idol. He is your creator. He is your redeemer. And he will come to your grave on the last day.

And he will say “Be opened.” And you will rise from your grave imperishable to eternal life.

Amen.