And taking him aside from the crowd, He put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue.
Christ acts with this man in a special way. He takes him away from the crowd, because healing is not only a public spectacle of a miracle, but also a personal encounter between the suffering one and the Lord, and at the same time He avoids unnecessary noise and people’s showy attention. He uses visible signs: putting His fingers into the ears and touching the tongue. These signs serve so that the man, who could not hear the word, might understand in his body what the Lord is about to do. Christ humbles Himself to that man’s condition and approaches him in a way fitting to his understanding. This shows great compassion and personal attention. He not only has power to heal, but also knows how to reach the heart and condition of a specific person, acting in a way that is accessible to that person.