“And taking him aside from the crowd privately…”
Often when we think of Jesus performing miracles, we can think of big, showy things – almost like it would be like a summer blockbuster. Pyrotechnics, giant crowds cheering like mad. And often that was what people wanted.
Yet when the crowd brings a deaf man who can’t talk to Jesus, Jesus doesn’t put on a show for them. Instead, Jesus pulls the man off privately. Then, Jesus communicates with the man – I’m going to pop open these ears here, I’m going to fix this tongue here. See, I’m going to pray now – and “Be opened.” And it was good.
Jesus isn’t worried about entertaining the crowd. He isn’t worried about proving how great He is. When He healed, it wasn’t 1st century virtue signaling. It was personal and direct care for the benefit of the person Jesus was dealing with at that moment. Plain and simple, it was love.
When you hear from the Scriptures that Jesus loves you, that isn’t Jesus trying to impress people or improve His reputation – far from it, His love for you led to Him being crucified by the people of power and status. No, Jesus simply is determined to do what is good for you, to win you forgiveness with His death, to personally call you by name in Holy Baptism, to give you Himself in His Supper. And if the crowds don’t like it, so be it. His focus is you, being your Savior. And that He is.
