T HE P OWER OF T OUCH Mark 7:31-37, 8:22-26

T HE P OWER OF T OUCH Mark 7:31-37 (NIV) 31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”).

T HE P OWER OF T OUCH Mark 7: At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

T HE P OWER OF T OUCH Mark 8:22-26 (NIV) 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

T HE P OWER OF T OUCH Mark 8:22-26 (NIV) 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

T HE P OWER OF T OUCH I. The Stories of Physical Healings II.The Parallels of Spiritual Healings III.The Promises of Spiritual Restoration

I. T HE S TORIES OF P HYSICAL H EALINGS Mark 7:31-37 Healing of a Gentile deaf and mute man “Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

I. T HE S TORIES OF P HYSICAL H EALINGS Mark 8:22-26 Healing of a Jewish blind man. “When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly”

II. T HE P ARALLELS OF S PIRITUAL H EALINGS 1. Spiritual Deafness 2. Spiritual Blindness 3. Spiritual Muteness

III. T HE P ROMISES OF R ESTORATION Exodus 4:10-11 (NIV) 10 Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” 11 The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

III. T HE P ROMISES OF R ESTORATION Isaiah 35:5-6 (NIV) 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert The Power of God’s Touch

III. T HE P ROMISES OF R ESTORATION Charles Wesley: “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” #107 Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise; ye dumb, your loosened tongue employ. Ye blind, behold your Savior come; and leap, ye lame, for joy O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemer’s praise. The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace. My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread through all the earth abroad the honor of thy name