INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS

The journey of the Lord from Phoenicia (Tyre and Sidon) to Decapolis covered between 50 and 75 miles. No doubt much of the traveling might have taken place on foot. When He arrived at the Sea of Galilee, the Lord must have been drained physically. Yet, there was no time for rest because a man in need of healing was brought to Him. The man was deaf and had a speech impediment. The Lord separated from the multitude and healed the deaf and dumb man. He first put His fingers in the man’s ears, then spit and touched the man’s tongue. The Lord looked toward heaven and sighed, then commanded the man’s ears to be opened. Immediately, his eyes were opened and his tongue was loosed and he could both see and speak.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children) Discuss how mom and dad show their love by still caring for their family even when they are tired or sick. God helps them to do this. Jesus cared for people even when He was tired. He even took care of people even while suffering on the cross.
• (For everyone) How would you feel after a journey of 50-75 miles? (Remember travel was not the same as it is today.) Would you easily be able to focus on helping others?
• What problems did the man in need have? How did Christ heal him? If compassion means “suffer with someone,” why is it significant that the Lord touched the man’s ear and tongue?

PRAYER THOUGHTS

• Thank the Lord for being touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
• Ask God to help you become more aware of His compassion.

SONG

I Will Sing the Wondrous Story

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