Mark 7 … Consider Him Who Has Done All Things Well

Originally posted: 07/05/2019

They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak,” (7:37).

Although many did not fully understand, or perhaps even believe what they had declared about Jesus (for later they allowed Him Who Has Done All Things Well to be crucified), the statement was true nevertheless.

The crowd was astonished as they witnessed His power; He made even the impossible possible. This was an all-encompassing truth, whether realized or not, categorically describing All Things He Has Done; He Has Done All Things Well.

Consider Him Who Has Done All Things Well

• He Has Done All Things Well, even when sharply rebuking hypocrisy.
  • And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
    ‘This people honors Me with their lips,
    But their heart is far away from Me.
    ⁷ ‘But in vain do they worship Me,
    Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
    ⁸ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”… ¹³ thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that,” (7:6-8, 13).

•  He Has Done All Things well, even when firmly reproving His disciples’ lack of understanding.
  • When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. ¹⁸ And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? ? Do you not understand…?” (7:17-18).

•  He Has Done All Things well, even when seemingly unmoved by a woman’s desperation.
  • Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” (7:26-27).

•  He Has Done All Things Well, even when opening ears to hear and mouths to speak.
  • They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. ³³ Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; ³⁴ and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” ³⁵ And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly…  ³⁷ They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak,” (7:32-35, 37).

How do we respond to Him Who Has Done All Things Well?

We begin by acknowledging the truth; He Has Done All Things Well, all the time, whether or not we understand or agree. Our evaluation of His actions is not to be our barometer for truth; we find His standard for truth in His Perfect Character and His Holy Word.

Let us examine our lives today by the Holy Words of Him Who Has Done All Things Well:

• Is there hypocrisy in us? Let us humbly receive correction in His sharp rebuke.
  • “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye,” (Matthew 7:3-5).
  • Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good, (Romans 12:9).

• Is there a lack of understanding? Let us find wisdom in His firm reproof.
  • The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    Fools despise wisdom and instruction, (Proverbs 1:7).
  • A fool does not delight in understanding,
    But only in revealing his own mind, (Proverbs 18:2).

• Are we feeling weakened by suffering and trials? In our times of trouble, let us fix our eyes on His eternal purpose.
  • Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?
    Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?…
    ¹⁷ O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
    You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear, (Psalm 10:1, 17).
  •  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal, (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

• Do our ears need to be opened to hear truth? Let us accept His counsel and discipline.
  • Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
    That you may be wise the rest of your days.
    ²¹ Many plans are in a man’s heart,
    But the counsel of the Lord will stand, (Proverbs 19:20-21).
  • All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness, (Hebrews 12:11).

• Do our mouths need to be opened to speak the truth? Let us pray for His love and wisdom to share His truth.
  • A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    But a harsh word stirs up anger.
    ² The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
    But the mouth of fools spouts folly, (Proverbs 15:1-2).
  • …but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ… ²⁵ Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another, (Ephesians 4:15, 25).

Let us intentionally declare His miraculous wonders and mercies on our behalf, eager to tell the world of Him Who Has Done All Things Well.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count, (Psalm 40:5).

Come and hear, all who fear God,
And I will tell of what He has done for my soul, (Psalm 66:16).

Let’s Grow Together!