Monday Meditation
May 11, 2015
From the desk of Dr. A.J. Higgins
All Things Well
“He hath done all things well.”
Mark 7:37
The scene in Mark 7:31-36 is unique to Mark. None of the other writers record it. A deaf man who could not speak clearly – certainly a picture of the nation – is brought to Christ. Men have their own idea of how the Lord should deal with the problem. But in His own unique way (vv 33-35), the Lord brings healing to him.
As a result, the people were “beyond measure astonished.” They were literally overwhelmed by what they saw. In our modern vernacular, we would say they were “blown away” by the miracle. All they can say, as they looked on, was, “He hath done all things well.”
In truth, God’s Servant did “all things well.” No miracle was partial or imperfect. No miracle was gradual or temporary. He did everything perfectly, in the perfect manner, at the perfect time, and with the perfect motive.
In John’s Gospel, the confession is, “Never Man spake like this Man.” He is the revealer of the Father. He is the Logos, the Word. It is fitting that in John we are reminded of unique words. In Matthew, the Gospel of the King, it is the authority of His words which caused men to marvel (Matt 7:29). In Luke, men “wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.” In Luke it is the grace, the beauty of His person as expressed in His words and ways.
But in Mark, the Gospel of the Servant, it is not what He says, how He says it, or the authority behind it. It is what He does. He does everything with absolute perfection. Think of what He has done: He made the worlds, not merely our earth. A solar system of incredible complexity came from His hands. Think of His service for God – all done well. Think of His work on the cross for you and me – all done well. Whether fashioning woodwork in His shop in Nazareth as a lowly carpenter, or framing the worlds, whether restoring sight or removing sin at Calvary, He has done all things well!
Consider
- Why is it so fitting that in John’s Gospel, we get the expression, “Verily, Verily,” attesting to the veracity of the words of One Who is the Truth?
- Think of other expressions unique to each Gospel account which show the uniqueness of Christ. Then consider why they are in that particular Gospel. For example, in Luke alone we read, “This Man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” Other words and expressions are unique to Mark.
- Men spit upon Christ and in their spit was vileness. Christ used saliva here with the blind man (v 33) and it revealed His virtue.
- Why do you think the Lord Jesus “sighed” in verse 34? Did He sigh elsewhere in Mark? What about in other Gospels?
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