"Again, JESUS set out: from the country of Tyre HE passed through Sidon and, skirting the sea of Galilee, HE came to the territory of Decapolis. There, a deaf man, who also had difficulty in speaking, was brought to HIM. They asked JESUS to lay HIS hand upon HIM.
JESUS took HIM apart from the crowd, put HIS fingers into the man's ears, and touched HIS tongue with spittle. Then, looking up to heaven, HE said with a deep sigh, "Ephphata!" that is, "Be opened!"
And immediately, his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly. JESUS ordered them not to tell anyone about it; but the more he insisted, the more they proclaimed it. The people were completely astonished and said, "HE has done all things well; HE makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak." - Mark 7:31-37
(They asked JESUS to lay HIS hand upon him. This was a way of invoking divine power but JESUS did not have to ask. By HIS gesture HE showed that HE had within HIMSELF, within HIS human person, all the health and welfare that we need, and HE communicated this to the sick one.
JESUS groaned (see 8:12). Why? Because the man before HIM is an impressive symbol of those who have eyes and ears but neither see nor hear. The people bring HIM the deaf-mute, and ask HIM to heal HIM, but they themselves remain deaf.
JESUS ordered them not to tell anyone. How far JESUS is from the organizers of a "Miracle Crusade"! An unexpected miracle may help us discover the loving presence of GOD, but as soon as we begin to wait for them, we turn away from the Gospel. The devil knows this and so tempted JESUS in the desert [Matthew 4:6]: See the warnings of Deuteronomy to people anxious to see miracles [Deuteronomy 13]. Faith leans on the word of GOD, not on miracles [John 4:48]).
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