I got to teach the back half of Mark chapter 6 today. It includes two stories: one is about a woman, begging Jesus to deliver her daughter from a demon (He does) and the other is about a deaf, mute man that Jesus heals.

Here are some lessons we can learn from those stories.

1. The Petition of the Woman

This woman had plenty of obstacles. She was a multi-ethnic, racial minority woman in a patriarchal world. Even Jesus’s disciples tried to stop her from speaking to Jesus. She, nevertheless, persisted in bringing her petition.

We can learn from her. In her petition to Jesus, she was persistent, desperate, and asking in faith. Let’s pray like that. It’s hard to be desperate when you live in America. We’re often spoiled. Let’s strive to be desperate for God.

2. The Nearness of the Deaf Mute

The text says that Jesus pulled the deaf mute aside, and healed him in an one-on-one setting.

We often think of Jesus as the savior of the WORLD or the NATIONS, but not as intimately our OWN salvation. Jesus desires to be near to you. Yes... you.

Some of us are skeptical of that. We wonder if he could truly love us if we get close. Jesus’s entire life, though, illustrates that he’s not afraid of your sin or your story. Draw close. In closeness, there is healing.

3. The Compassion of Jesus

The most compelling moment in the story to me is this: when Jesus is healing the deaf, mute man, the Bible says Jesus looks up and breathes out a sigh.

I feel so much in that sigh.

Jesus knows what the world once was and what it will be again. Hebrews says that Jesus is able to sympathize with our weakness.

He groans and sighs with us in all of our trials and weaknesses.

Additionally, Jesus doesn’t only feel our hurt with us, there is coming a day he will return and remake this broken world.

The text ended today with this glorious truth, spoken by the deaf mute’s friends about Jesus. It’s a truth I cling to: “he does all things well.”