What does the goodness of God look like?
This morning I read about the miracle of Jesus healing a deaf man. If I had been there personally I would have thought it looked very silly. You tell me what you think…
“ Jesus left the region around Tyre and went by way of Sidon toward Lake Galilee. He went through the land near the ten cities known as Decapolis. 32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk. They begged Jesus just to touch him.
33 After Jesus had taken him aside from the crowd, he stuck his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and put it on the man’s tongue. 34 Jesus looked up toward heaven, and with a groan he said, “Effatha!” which means “Open up!” 35 At once the man could hear, and he had no more trouble talking clearly.
36 Jesus told the people not to say anything about what he had done. But the more he told them, the more they talked about it. 37 They were completely amazed and said, “Everything he does is good! He even heals people who cannot hear or talk.” Mark 7:31-37 CEV
I believe I know why Jesus took this man away from the crowd. I can just hear their comments – “Oooo yuk! What’s He doing? I don’t want him spitting on me!” Jesus moved the man from a place of public opinion to a place where faith would be honored.
Jesus was definitely unconventional. The Apostle Paul said that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
Each one of us has a miracle story. A time when there is no other explanation for what we experienced than calling it a miracle. Sometimes we feel reluctant in telling others because we feel foolish or wonder what others may think.
God working in our lives is a testimony to others. Our stories build faith and hope. Our stories bring glory to God.
I like what the man who was blind said to those religious leaders who were interrogating him about the circumstances of his healing.
“The day when Jesus made the mud and healed the man was a Sabbath. So the people took the man to the Pharisees. 15 They asked him how he was able to see, and he answered, ‘Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. Then after I washed it off, I could see.‘…25 The man replied, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner or not. All I know is that I used to be blind, but now I can see!’” John 9:14-25 CEV
Each one of us has a miracle story that the world needs to hear. The world is looking for hope, looking for peace, looking for love. It is the goodness of God that draws people to Him.
Share your miracle and be a light of goodness to the world!