The Touch of God, part 72

Warriors Arise: September 24, 2021

Mark 7:32-34 (NKJV) 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. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

Do you wonder why Mark and the translators felt like they needed to keep the original word as well as add the translation? There are few times in the Bible where the original language, Hebrew and Greek, are kept their original wording. One that comes to mind is when Jesus is saying His last words from the cross. Everything else He said from the cross is translated but these words and then the translators give the meaning of the original text.

Matthew 27:45-47 (NKJV) Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”

As side note, I find it funny that the people at the crucifixion, watching and listening didn't know what Jesus was saying. They needed a translator. Those listening thought Jesus was calling for Elijah. I do not know if Matthew added the translation. Maybe since the people there didn't know what Jesus said; he felt he needed to give translation so it didn't get mixed up. Or did the people who translated the Bible add the translation. I do not know, but whoever did, they felt it was pretty important and God wanted the original text to remain even though the translation was needed. Which leads to another question.

It has always been pretty powerful to read the Matthew 27 words from the cross in the original text. It makes me slow down and take it in. I can't breeze through it, because it takes me a few times to work through how to pronounce it. I wonder why the original words said are left in Mark? Why would be important to know the exact words Jesus said? Was it just so we would slow down and take in the event, what happened, how the miracle happened this particular time?

It is so rare for the original words to be left in the Bible whether is was the author, the translator or God who felt we needed it, I believe it is important. There are times when reading the Bible we need to stop, process, re-read, be silent, and allow God to speak. When I read words like "Ephphatha" and “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” I have to take the time to pronounce the words. Most likely, I am not saying them correctly; however, I learned years ago I needed to stop skipping over the words I couldn't read and really look at them, try to read them, and sometimes I had to look them up. All of it caused me to slow down and read to understand not just to have finished my Bible reading for the day. Many times, I learned the importance of the Scripture and greater understanding of God and the situation He wanted recorded in the Bible. Every word in the Bible matters. Slow down, try to pronounce them and listen to God speak to you.

Father, this is important to You. You left the original text in the Bible. What are You wanting me to know? I open my mind to learn from You. I open my heart to receive what Your Word says. I ask for You to speak to me. Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts, Your ways are higher than my ways. I know You know more than I. But I also know Your Word tells me to get wisdom and get understanding. I want to learn from You. I position myself before You to receive wisdom and understanding in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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