Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. - Mark 7:32-35
Here comes the decisive word, "Open Up!" The turning point from the old to the new world, from the fallen to the redeemed world, from unfaith to belief is concentrated in this word... The ear and the mouth open up right when Jesus speaks; locked doors open up; chains release their hold. In this way the Word is an active, efficacious Word.
The Word of Jesus Christ that re-creates takes place in such a way that all creatures begin to speak at the same time; the world that has been closed to me up to this point becomes in a new way an address from God. "It is preached here, so that we are enabled to hear sheep. Sheep, cows, trees when they blossom, say, 'Ephphatha'... All creatures call to you! Therefore: Go ahead, open you ears!"
- Excerpt "Martin Luther's Theology" by Oswald Bayer
Creation speaks, and listens too!
"the world that has been closed to me up to this point becomes in a new way an address from God..."
ReplyDeleteSometimes this happens with people too. To the people who were once closed off to me I get my ears and eyes open again, through the preaching of the "Open up!" by which I am returned to a humble creature, one now able to receive the gifts of those who were once closed off to me because of my pride.
And I love how the cows are staring at the jazz players, as only cows can. (I wonder, is that how our congregation looks at times to the preacher ((or worship leader))?? :P)
And who knew just two instruments could sound that good!!? (Makes me almost want to buy their album.)