This is part 10 of a multi-part series on the book of Mark.
Today, we’re in Mark 7:31-37.
Jesus continued his tour of Gentile territory, purposefully going on a 120-mile journey through Sidon and into the Decapolis rather than going through Jewish land (7:31). Gentiles were bringing people for Jesus to heal as well, as they had been on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus healed a deaf man who also had a speech impediment there (7:33-35) and pushed back the kingdom of darkness even in the Decapolis. Surely the disciples were wondering about his “I came only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel” comment. “Be opened” (7:34) Jesus said to the ears and to the tongue, and it was so (7:35).
Much like Genesis 1 when God created the heavens and the earth, Jesus declared things and they were so. He was opening what had been closed by the enemy, freeing what had been chained, healing those who had been made sick, and fixing what was broken, “And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well” (7:37). You can hear the, “And it was good” reverberating all the way back to Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31.
He had come to inaugurate his Kingdom and make all things new again (Revelation 21:5). How can you participate in making all things new? Maybe a better question is: how are you already participating in making all things new? In your job, spend time praying that God would use your gifts and skills to expand His Kingdom. Look for ways you can make things work better, even if your influence is small. Humble yourself under His mighty hand, that He may exalt you at the proper time (1 Peter 5:6-7).
To learn more about B4T, read Business for Transformation by Patrick Lai.