This is supposition on my part: Jesus and his friends headed north to the coast where no – one knew him, presumably for a little break from the crowds.
Their fame obviously preceded them and before long – Jesus was again confronted with someone who wanted and or needed or desired his attention.
Why did Jesus and the twelve go to Tyre in Modern day Lebanon?
Mark hints at the answer in saying, “He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there.”
It sounds like – Jesus just needed some peace and some quiet…some down-time, if you will.
Mark apparently is trying to tell us that despite not wanting anyone to know where he was, Jesus “couldn’t keep his presence a secret.” “Word” always seemed to somehow get out and spread.
There is to be “no-flying under-the-radar” for Jesus. People have heard about Jesus even in the Roman province of Syria. Suffice it to say, that the area was known as being a mixture of Canaanite, Phoenician, Greek and Roman peoples all of which were the enemies of Israel.
Nothing seems to change…
This story pushes the boundary geographically, ethnically and sexually.
The “woman” happens to be a triple threat; she is a foreigner, a Gentile and a woman. Women were never to approach a man in such a bold manner, especially when they were in a home and especially as a Gentile to a Jew. She was to remain quiet and subservient.
What I appreciate is that Jesus never loses a verbal encounter. Never. In each and every case he is the victor. His opponents are stymied and never know “how to respond.” He leaves them utterly speechless…and silent.
Except for this one time.
Jesus is almost the one – left speechless. Jesus actually loses the argument with a woman.
Guys— a word to the wise—if there was “no winning for Jesus” what makes you think that you might fare any better? Just saying…
The whole incident is a stunning – an unheard of development. But it does point out the fact, of our need to always be “open,” because there are always “things” that we can learn from others…
This is a neat transition between the two narratives or stories.
From here-Jesus and the twelve travels toward the region of the Decapolis…a Greek word meaning ten cities. Jesus is now traveling widely throughout what is exclusively Gentile territory.
Remember the word to the early church is “Be Open.”
An unidentified “they” brings a deaf man with a speech impediment to Jesus.
There is no escape. His fame is spreading.
“A crowd” is also mentioned, but Jesus will have none of the crowd and takes the man away from the people and they go off by themselves…alone.
This healing is strikingly personal.
Jesus “thrusts” his fingers into the man’s ears, then spits, (presumably into his own hands), and then touches the man’s tongue.
This of course, was a serious abrogation of the purity laws, because saliva was considered to be a contaminant. But not from a “holy man…” It was believed that there was spiritual healing power in the saliva of a holy man.
The story is earthly and physical. Jesus creates a kind of “sign language” for the man…to help him understand what is about to happen to him.
Jesus then looked into heaven as a sign of where this healing was coming from and then in a deep guttural groan of personal distress, Jesus cries out “ephphatha,” Aramaic for “be open.”
And the man (again, presumably a Gentile-foreigner) is healed miraculously. Ephphatha – be open!
There is a lesson here for all of us. The broadening of (the heart and the mind) to include the “other” is one of the most difficult psychological maneuvers there is.
We project what we do not like in ourselves onto the “other.”
We tend to see the “other” as being somehow less than us. They are less than human. They cannot be loved or embraced by God.
For too long, all churches have been closed up tighter than a drum. It is time to open our hearts and our minds.
It is time for us to imitate our God and be inclusive and not exclusive.
I tell you the words for today…are is to “Be Open!” Life is too short!