Why did Jesus use saliva to heal in Mark 7:33? Canonical Text (Mark 7:33) “He took him aside from the crowd privately and put His fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting, He touched the man’s tongue.” Immediate Literary Setting The healing occurs in the Decapolis, a Gentile region (Mark 7:31). Jesus has just corrected Pharisaic legalism (7:1-23) and honored the faith of a Syrophoenician woman (7:24-30). The miracle therefore underscores His compassion toward outsiders and anticipates the gospel’s worldwide reach (cf. Isaiah 49:6). First-Century Views of Saliva as Therapeutic Greco-Roman physicians (e.g., Pliny, Nat. Hist. 28.7; Galen, De Simplicium Medicamentorum 13.5) and rabbinic traditions (Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 126b) regarded human saliva—especially from an honored person—as possessing curative properties. By employing a culturally recognizable medium, Jesus communicated healing intent in a form the man, his companions, and the surrounding Gentile audience could immediately understand. Yet the instantaneous result distinguished His act from contemporary folk remedies that relied on gradual, uncertain outcomes. Embodied Compassion and Personal Engagement Jesus “took him aside from the crowd privately” (Mark 7:33). The deaf-mute could neither hear requests nor speak thanks; personal touch replaced spoken reassurance. The physical contact—fingers in ears, saliva on tongue—communicated, “I am addressing the exact organs that fail you.” This pastoral sensitivity anticipates Paul’s counsel, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). Symbolic Echoes of Creation Genesis 2:7 records God’s formation of man from “dust of the ground.” By using saliva (a bodily fluid) to repair impaired faculties, the incarnate Creator hints at His original creative act, reaffirming that He who once formed ears and tongues can refashion them in an instant (cf. Psalm 94:9). Fulfillment of Messianic Expectation Isaiah 35:5-6: “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing.” Mark uniquely combines “ears” and “tongue,” matching Isaiah’s prophecy and signaling that the promised Restoration has arrived in Jesus. Repudiation of Magical Technique Ancient magicians often uttered lengthy incantations or invoked intermediary spirits. Jesus does neither. One Aramaic imperative—“Ephphatha!” (“Be opened!” Mark 7:34)—suffices. His authority is divine, not manipulative. The saliva, therefore, is not the healing agent; it is a sign pointing to the true Source. Parallels Within the Gospels • Mark 8:23: Spittle used in a two-stage restoration of a blind man, marking pedagogical progression of the disciples’ perception. • John 9:6: Mud-saliva mixture applied to congenital blindness; sight follows obedience to wash in Siloam. The diversity of methods precludes any notion of formulaic magic and showcases Christ’s sovereign freedom. Privacy and the Messianic Secret Consistent with Mark’s theme, removing the man from the crowd restrains premature or misguided acclaim (cf. Mark 1:34, 44). It also protects the man’s dignity, an early demonstration of honoring persons with disabilities. Medical Miracles and Modern Observation Contemporary peer-reviewed case studies (e.g., Craig Keener, Miracles, 2011, vol. 2) document instantaneous restorations of hearing and speech following prayer in Jesus’ name. Such data align with Acts 3:16—“the faith that comes through Him has given this complete healing” . Theological Takeaways • Incarnation: The eternal Word uses matter to bless matter, foreshadowing the sacraments’ tangible signs of grace. • Faith: Though no explicit belief is voiced, the man’s friends “begged Jesus” (Mark 7:32). Their intercession parallels James 5:16. • Salvation Narrative: Physical healing anticipates ultimate resurrection wholeness (Philippians 3:20-21). Practical Application for Today Believers may confidently pray for healing, recognizing that methods vary but Christ remains able (Hebrews 13:8). Ministers should emulate Jesus’ compassionate, dignifying approach to the disabled. Skeptics are invited to examine the historical resurrection that grounds all Christian miracle claims (1 Corinthians 15:14-20). Summary Jesus used saliva in Mark 7:33 to communicate healing in culturally meaningful symbolism, to demonstrate incarnate compassion, to echo creation’s artistry, and to fulfill messianic prophecy—all while repudiating magical superstition through the sheer authority of His spoken word. The detailed, early, and multiply attested record affirms the historicity of the event and invites every reader to the same conclusion the healed man surely reached: the touch of the living Christ opens what sin and brokenness have shut, for “He has done all things well” (Mark 7:37). |
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