Special People
Kenneth Kroohs
Isaiah 35:4-7
September 10, 2000
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL
OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND
OUR REDEEMER AMEN
I always enjoy looking in the Gospels for the special people in each story. The special people who behave as Christians. People who show love and caring without seeking personal glory. The behind the scenes type of worker.
Today's Gospel is a perfect example ... even though I missed it the first several times I read the Gospel. There is exactly one word .. "they" ... "They brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment."
People who are absolutely essential to the story ... people who are absolutely essential to Jesus' ministry! And all the notice they get is one word -- "they". No names. No description. No recognition. Without them, the man never reaches Jesus. Without them, God's power cannot be demonstrated. Without them, the witnessing at the end of today's passage, "Jesus has done all things well; He even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak." -- without the people only known as "they", no one would have heard that witness.
Who are "they"? We don't know. Not the disciples -- the grammar does not suggest it was the disciples. So probably people who were friends -- very likely relatives of this man. A deaf man with a speech impediment --- very possibly if he was deaf from birth he had never learned to speak --- such a person would have few friends today .. in the year 2000, and even fewer in those days. Remember, virtually no one could read and write among the general populace, so verbal communications were the only option. Most likely this man has developed some form of communication with his family. Gestures maybe. He probably has been working at some job which did not require much communication.
Almost certainly he knew nothing about Jesus. In fact, he probably knew very li ...
Kenneth Kroohs
Isaiah 35:4-7
September 10, 2000
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL
OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND
OUR REDEEMER AMEN
I always enjoy looking in the Gospels for the special people in each story. The special people who behave as Christians. People who show love and caring without seeking personal glory. The behind the scenes type of worker.
Today's Gospel is a perfect example ... even though I missed it the first several times I read the Gospel. There is exactly one word .. "they" ... "They brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment."
People who are absolutely essential to the story ... people who are absolutely essential to Jesus' ministry! And all the notice they get is one word -- "they". No names. No description. No recognition. Without them, the man never reaches Jesus. Without them, God's power cannot be demonstrated. Without them, the witnessing at the end of today's passage, "Jesus has done all things well; He even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak." -- without the people only known as "they", no one would have heard that witness.
Who are "they"? We don't know. Not the disciples -- the grammar does not suggest it was the disciples. So probably people who were friends -- very likely relatives of this man. A deaf man with a speech impediment --- very possibly if he was deaf from birth he had never learned to speak --- such a person would have few friends today .. in the year 2000, and even fewer in those days. Remember, virtually no one could read and write among the general populace, so verbal communications were the only option. Most likely this man has developed some form of communication with his family. Gestures maybe. He probably has been working at some job which did not require much communication.
Almost certainly he knew nothing about Jesus. In fact, he probably knew very li ...
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