Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed [it]. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

– Mark 7:31-37 (NKJV)

This is not the first mention of this place, Decapolis (which literally means 10 cities Deca / polis). In Mark 5:20 Jesus sends the man who was delivered by demons back to his people to proclaim what Jesus had done. It says that he went around this area, Decapolis, “telling how much Jesus had done for him and the people marveled.” It is in this countryside down by the lake that the people first told Jesus to go away. They were afraid for what he had done to the pigs!

But now things have changed. They have a man who has a severe need, He can’t hear or talk well and so they bring him to Jesus. Then Jesus does something incredible and touches this man, healing him in a way that he could see and know what is going on. Once again, Jesus enters into an impossible situation and brings hearing and clarity of communication back into this man’s life.

Now the people are ready to receive him and the more he tells everyone to be quiet, the more they tell everyone about what He has done! It seems like a region that was once closed off to Jesus is now receptive and people are bringing their sick ones to him to be healed.

Before their hearts were like the soil that fell on the hard path in Mark 4. Now their hearts are softer. What was the difference? Jesus came to the region at a different time, in a different way (land instead of sea), and the man had been through the region sharing his testimony of what Jesus had done for him.

My take away today is to remember that a “no” to the word of God today, doesn’t mean it will always be a no. God has a way of opening up people to his word. Sometimes it takes coming at a different time, in a different way, with or behind someone who shares their testimony.

I’m so grateful for the teenagers at our church who have been practicing and sharing their testimonies. You never know quite when or how God will use your testimony of what God has done in your life to effect others. There was a whole region that was formerly closed off to Jesus that now welcomed him in because Jesus had sent this man back to his people to tell of all the great things he had done for him.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. I am grateful that the people in this area got a chance to see Jesus do his work in their midst. Give us perseverance in telling others about the good work you have done in our life. Give us grace in sharing your word to others. Where we have friends who have previously closed off their hearts to you, we ask that you would make them receptive to your word. Please guide us in your will and direction. In Jesus Name, Amen.