“There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’)” (Mark 7:32-34).

Jesus was considerate of the man’s condition and took him away from the crowd to minister to him. Jesus was not just powerful and wise, He was extraordinarily kind. The man was deaf so he wouldn’t have heard about Jesus. His deafness would have left him excited and confused by the crowd. Jesus took the time to be considerate of his need. As He always did with those He touched, Jesus took a personal interest in the man.

Jesus used the perfect means of communication—sign language. He put his fingers into the man’s ears to show him what He was going to do. “Something will be done for your ears…and I will do it.” He touched the man’s tongue to focus his attention on his need. “Something will be done for your tongue…and I will do it.” Then Jesus looked up to heaven. “Look up. That’s where the power is going to come from.” The man knew everything Jesus was doing because Jesus communicated with him in a way he could understand.

Whenever Jesus ministers He does so with consideration and kindness. He adapts His approach to us so that we aren’t confused or embarrassed. He doesn’t just heal us; He does it in the kindest possible way. He communicates with us in ways that we can understand. One thing is certain, after Jesus touches us we aren’t just changed for the better, we are convinced that He loves us deeply.