Mark 7, verses 31 to 37
Mark 7 shows the power of prayer to heal.
Healing and Understanding from a Christian Science View
The Gospel of Mark 7:31-37 tells a remarkable healing performed by Jesus—a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment was brought to him for healing. Jesus took the man aside, touched his ears and tongue, looked up to heaven, and said, “Ephphatha,” meaning “Be opened.” Immediately, the man’s hearing and speech were restored.
From a Christian Science view, this story illustrates the power of divine Truth to overcome human limitations. Jesus’ healing work was not miraculous in the sense of breaking natural law, but rather, it demonstrated the spiritual reality of God’s creation. In Christian Science, disease and disability are seen as false beliefs—not part of God’s perfect, spiritual man. Jesus’ understanding of this truth enabled him to heal instantaneously.
By saying “Be opened,” Jesus was not only healing the man’s physical condition, but more importantly revealing a deeper spiritual awakening in his thought. This concept applies to all of us today—healing occurs when we open our thought to divine Truth and recognize our God-given wholeness. The Christ—the divine nature that Jesus expressed—is always present to dissolve limiting beliefs, whether they appear as any type of problem such as sickness, fear, or doubt.
This Biblical healing story invites us to examine our own lives: Where can we “be opened” to a clearer understanding of God and our spiritual identity? As we follow Jesus’ example and turn to divine Truth, we too can experience freedom, healing, and renewal. This result is proven many times through all of the healings shared through Christian Science testimonies at Wednesday meetings, in periodicals, and at Christian Science lectures.
Mark 7
…. departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Mary Baker Eddy said, “The progress of truth confirms its claims, and our Master confirmed his words by his works.”
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
Healing Through Prayer
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