Baptized with Jesus’ Spit

Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 7:31-37.

Jesus continues His ministry among the Gentiles by taking a circuitous route from Tyre to return to the Decapolis. The people there bring to Him a man who is both deaf and mute, asking in faith for Jesus to touch the man with healing. Jesus draws the man aside privately and communicates to him what he is about to do. Jesus’ physical touch reminds us of the importance of the way God attaches His Word of promise to physical elements in the Sacraments still today; that is why the Church has at times made use of part of this text in the Baptismal rite. Jesus speaks His effective Word, and even though this man could not previously hear, he does hear these words. Now his ears and tongue work as God had always intended, and the entire crowd takes note of Jesus. As Jesus healed this man’s physical malady, so He still heals our spiritual malady. Through the power of His Word, He opens our ears to hear the truth and looses our tongues to sing His praise.

“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.