From: Su Min
Epistle to The CyberChurch
The rain may come down, the stream may rise, the winds may blow and beat against it, but that built upon
The Rock will not fall.
Mark show Jesus proceeds northwards in Phoenicia through Sidon, then eastwards across the Jordan, and
finally southwards through Decapolis (the region of the ten cities). This route suggests that He seeks to
avoid headlong confrontation with Herod Antipas.
He reaches his destination up into the hills where one may expect he could find peace and seclusion.
But peace and seclusion were not to be. Even as Jesus sat down upon the hills that bordered the shores of
the Sea of Galilee, great crowds came to Him.
This one verse compresses much of the pattern of the healing ministry of Jesus. Within this one verse
await many mini-lessons for us.
So too for us: we, who have had our needs met by Jesus, who have accepted the gift of eternal life:
We should take the cue from this great crowd, we should bring others to the bread of life, we should
rescue the perishing, bring hope to the hopeless, bring light to the children of darkness, bring love to the
unloved, the message of salvation to the unsaved.
The broad, the general, and the specific: people of all manner of ills were brought to Jesus. Mark_7:32-35_
documents one specific individual who was deaf and had a speech impediment. The lame, the blind, the
crippled, the dumb, and many others were brought to Jesus. Whatever our needs we can come to Jesus.
Jesus healed the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb, and the many others who were brought to Him.
The one specific individual who was deaf and had a speech impediment was taken aside from the crowd
by Jesus who then touched his ear and his tongue, perhaps the better to communicate with the deaf man.
Jesus spoke an Aramaic word, "Ephphatha", (that is "Be Opened..." ), and indeed the ear was opened and
hearing returned and the mouth was opened and clear speech returned.
And they praised the God of Israel (Matthew_15:31b)
Yes, I believe He can. Miraculous cures are still possible, though few and far between. Though not for
lack of faith. There are some who He chooses to heal, some who he chooses not to heal.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a gospel of material health and wealth.
Jesus heals: He cures us from sin and eternal death.
"Ephphatha"... "Be Opened.."
Jesus speaks to each one of us, beloved. "Ephphatha". That word speaks to us across the centuries...
What do we have closed that are to be opened?
Pause a while now, my dears, and write down a list of your blessings.
Grace love and peace
Su Min
Subject: Ephphatha... Be Opened..CYBERCHURCHIANS
Monday 25th November 1996
GREETINGS
My dear family and friends, parishioners of The Cyberchurch, trans-denominational, a church as
universal as it can get, built on The Rock.
TEXT
Our text for today is Matthew_15:29-31. Jesus heals. See also Mark_7:31-37.
CONTEXT
Jesus had retired to the outskirts of Sidon and Tyre to seek solitude (Matthew_15:21)
But solitude was not to be found.
He was approached by a persistent Gentile woman of great faith.
He healed her demon possessed daughter as she was humble and faithful enough to ask for merely the
crumbs from under the table.
Today's passage opens just as Jesus returns from the outskirts of Sidon and Tyre.
UP THE HILL
Jesus left there and went along the sea of Galilee. Then He went up into the hills and sat down. (Matthew_15:29)
GREAT CROWDS
Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb, and many others, and
laid them at His feet; and He healed them (Matthew_15:30)
Mini-lesson 1)
Great crowds came to him bringing...
How did the needful get to Jesus?
They were brought by great crowds of others.
Great crowds of others, whom we can presume, had been needful themselves, then had their needs met by
Jesus, met at their very point of need.
Great crowds of people who had been hungry, but found where to get bread.
They ate their fill, and went out to bring others to the living bread.
Mini-lesson 2)
The lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb, and many others,..
Mini-lesson 3)
and laid them at his feet
Having come to Jesus, what is our posture?
Throw away conceit.
Throw away self sufficiency.
Throw away self pride.
Throw away self righteousness.
Come in humility.
Come in repentance.
Not for you to stand tall, but throw yourself at His feet. Come to the mercy seat, come to the throne of
grace, and there, between the cherubims, meet Jesus.
Mini-lesson 4)
and he healed them
REACTION AND RESPONSE TO THE HEALING
The people were amazed when they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking,
and the blind seeing (Matthew_15:31a)
Mini-lesson 5)
And what is your reaction, beloved to the saving grace of Jesus?
Are you not amazed? Does it not fill you with awe and wonder, that Jesus should chose you as recipient of
the gift of eternal life, love you and die for you, and conquer death for you? Are you not amazed?
Mini-lesson 6)
And you, agapetos, would you not join the sixed-winged seraphs and archangels and heavenly choir of
angels and saints in a hymn of everlasting praise to our Almighty God?
LESSONS
Can Jesus nowadays heal our physical infirmities as well? The lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb,
and others?
Faith in Jesus does not mean that we will not travel through the dark valleys.
But faith in Jesus promises us that He will be with us every step of the way. And at the end of our journey
we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Mouths that will not testify of the saving grace of Jesus
Mouths that will not speak up against injustice
Mouths that will not tell of the bountiful everlasting mercy of God..
"Ephphatha"... "Be Opened.."
OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND PRAISE GOD
Having been touched by Jesus, what would you praise God for? May I suggest
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
And it will amaze you
What the Lord has done Amen!
For any comments or enquiries please write to Dr. Lim Su Min
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