Saturday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. Today we see Jesus respond to a Gentile woman’s persistent faith and we see him open the ears and tongue of a man who could not hear or speak. Jesus shows himself as the Lord who cannot be hidden, who responds to humble faith, and who does all things well.

As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.

Lord Jesus, you cannot be hidden.

You are the Savior who crosses boundaries to seek and to save.

Open my ears to hear you and loose my tongue to praise you.

I come to you with every need, trusting that even your crumbs are enough.

I honor you Lord. 

I give everyone and everything to you.

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.

A Scripture Reading from Mark 7:24-37:

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed (satisfied) first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Jesus travels into Gentile territory and “could not be hidden.” His presence draws a desperate mother who crosses cultural and religious boundaries to fall at his feet for her tormented daughter. His hard-sounding words about the children and the dogs test and reveal her faith; she does not argue with his priority for Israel but presses in with humility and boldness: “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Her faith recognizes there is more than enough in him. Enough for Israel and enough overflow for the nations.

Then in the Decapolis, Jesus takes a deaf man with a speech impediment aside. He ministers in a very unique way—fingers in ears, touch on the tongue, a deep sigh, a word spoken over him: “Be opened.” The one who could not hear, hears; the one who could hardly speak, now speaks plainly. Then the declaration, “He has done all things well.” He is the Lord who opens what is closed-hearts, ears, mouths, even the nations to the mercy of God.

A Prayer of Adoration

Lord Jesus, you are the One who cannot be hidden. You welcome the desperate faith of a Gentile mother and you honor her persistence. You speak “Be opened” and what was shut opens up. We worship you as the One who does all things well.

A Prayer of Confession

Lord, forgive us when we underestimate your mercy or act as if your grace is unavailable. Forgive us when we treat some people as “outsiders” to your mercy and compassion. Forgive us for our lack of persistence in prayer, for the times we give up instead of coming back to you again in humility and faith. Lord, have mercy on us.

A Prayer of Trust

We trust that there is more than enough in you for every need we have. There is enough healing, deliverance, mercy, patience, grace. We trust that even what feels like a “crumb” of your attention is more powerful than the strongest demonic strength or the deepest brokenness. 

We believe that you are still opening deaf ears. You are still freeing tongues to praise you. Lord, we bring those we carry in our hearts. We believe you can reach them. We believe you can save and restore. 

A Prayer of Intercession and Petition

Lord, we bring to you today all the “little daughters and sons” tormented by darkness and evil. We bring to you kids, our students, adults bound by anxiety, addiction, oppression, or confusion. 

Lord, stretch out your hand and deliver them. Lord, touch them and heal them we pray. 

We pray for those who feel like outsiders to your people or to your promises. Lord, meet them with your kindness. Lord, have mercy.

Lord, we pray for those who are spiritually deaf. Unable to hear your voice. O God, Lord take them aside and speak “be opened” to them. Open their ears to your Word.

A Moment of Reflection

Lord, where are you inviting me to persist in prayer instead of giving up?

As we listen to the passage again, let’s listen for what this passage says about Jesus. 

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed (satisfied) first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize together:

Mark 6:34

“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”

Let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread and

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever

amen