Mark 7:33-37 English Standard Version

³³ And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. ³⁴ And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” ³⁵ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. ³⁶ And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. ³⁷ And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Jesus took the deaf mute aside for a private healing. When the man returned to the crowd they knew that Jesus had taken the man aside and even if they did not witness the miracle, they saw the result. Jesus instructed the crowds not to tell anyone about what He had done. They disobeyed.

What is to be learned about this section of His Word?

If we tell the lost about miracles that He has done for us privately, what proof do we have?

We want others to know Jesus is Lord and can do all things but we risk being called liars or fools.

Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

I have found that when in the presence of my brothers in the Lord they have the faith to believe God has done these things for me. He has done private miracles for them also.

Sharing the gospel does not have to include private miracles to be received.

Philippians 3:7-11 English Standard Version

⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

What have I lost that I might claim the hope contained in Paul’s “may” comments in verses 10 and 11?

That is the old way of attaining that which we desire, by human effort, even if it is to sacrifice in the name of love.

Hosea 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Matthew 9:13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Being called is enough.