Be Opened

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

Mark 7 (click the link)

KEY VERSE:

Jesus looked up to heaven. With a deep sigh, he said to the man, "Ephphatha!" That means "Be opened!" (Mark 7:34, NIRV)

MAIN IDEA OF THE PASSAGE:

Jesus is a guy on the move and shows up in gatherings of people—those against Him, those trying to figure Him out, and those who know what He has to offer.

In first part of Mark 7 Jesus has an encounter with the Pharisees and scribes. The Pharisees raise a pointed question of why Jesus’ disciples are eating with unclean hands and are not keeping the laws and traditions of the Jews. Jesus responds to the Pharisees that they are invalidating the word of God—they have neglected the commandment of God by holding to the tradition of men.

Jesus speaks of what defiles a man… that which goes into his stomach and is eliminated is not what defiles a man… but what goes into his heart and proceeds out of him, that is what defiles a man.

Then Jesus is in another gathering and tries to just blend in (I find this rather interesting). A woman seeks Him out in the crowd for her daughter’s sake. She speaks of crumbs from a table and that even the dogs get the sweetness of what falls to the floor. Jesus heals the woman’s daughter from AFAR!!!

Then Jesus shows up in another group and heals a deaf/partially mute man to hear and speak. He tells the man not to speak of the healing! Yet Jesus says to the man, “Ephphatha!” “Be Opened!”

REFLECTIONS:

So why did Jesus look up to heaven and give a deep sigh when he told the deaf/mute man “Ephphatha! – Be Opened!”? Was He tired in His human form, did He just want a few minutes to himself? I don’t know. But how many times as a mom, wife, friend, daughter, sister have I looked up (well really rolled my eyes) and given a deep sigh especially when I’ve been busy and rushing around? Not so sure my words that followed were as enlightening as Ephphatha!

What strikes me about this ancient phrase is that although Mark was written in Greek, the native Aramaic of Jesus was kept in the text. The word was possibly used and understood similar to the way we might mix in “graçias” or “mañana” in our everyday Texas speak.  It seems to me Ephphatha (be opened) doesn’t mean to open up in a way that might indicate once again shutting. This word, Ephphatha in its deep Aramaic roots means to remain open, to allow the flow to be open, back and forth, without end, to see out and take in, to hear and let the pure remain in and then be spoken by the lips.

This lays heavy on me, not as a burden but as a call to let the pure remain in and then be spoken… I can only do this when I am in Ephphatha.

POINT OF ACTION:

I am to be in the way of being opened, remaining opened without intention of being shut. That my own sight, hearing, speaking, acting be opened to Christ’s interaction with me on a daily basis not just for the moment for it to be shut later. Even when I roll my eyes and sigh.

PRAYER:

Jesus, I want Ephphatha! I want to be opened. Opened to see and hear what you have for me and for others. I pray that which goes into my heart and proceeds out of me, is pleasing to you. I know that what you have for me is greater than anything I can imagine. Thank you Lord!

WHO AM I?

Hi! I am Gayle Norris. So you have learned by now that David, my husband, is a self proclaimed nerd.  I am a self proclaimed wordsmith nerd. I am a journalism major and have spent many years writing technical manuals and ghost writing for magazine publications. I used to be a contract researcher for banks and corporations. Yes, I resided in library stacks and old school micro-fiche and was truly glad to get out in the real world and fresh air!

What else? Favorite movie—just might be Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Favorite color—blue… no… green. I delight in having fun as a family—that includes our two adult daughters and friends that have become our family.