The common, everyday language of Judea and Galilee in the first century was Aramaic. Although the Lord Jesus likely used Hebrew and Greek on particular occasions, it is commonly accepted that He spoke primarily Aramaic. Despite the fact that the Gospels are given to us in Greek, there are four incidents in the Savior’s life in which we are allowed to hear Him in His own words. Using Peter as his source (who was present for three of them), Mark records them all for us to hear.
Mark wants us to hear His tenderness. Our Lord had just stopped the flow of blood in the woman whose affliction lasted for 12 years. But then He needed to get the blood flowing in Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter who had just died. Taking her by the hand, the Savior said, “Talitha cumi” (5:41), meaning literally, “Little lamb, get up.” It is what a father might have said when waking up his little girl in the morning. We might say something similar: “Honey, it’s time to get up.” Can you not hear Christ’s tenderness?
Mark wants us to hear His authority. The miracle in Decapolis was unusual for at least three reasons. The man had two afflictions, not just one: he was deaf and mute. Second, there was the strange activity of Jesus spitting and touching the man’s tongue. Third, a single word from Christ did something for both disabilities. He said, “Ephphatha” (7:34), meaning “Be opened.” His ears and his tongue obeyed and were opened/loosed. And the crowd was “astonished beyond measure.” Can you not hear the Savior’s power in that word?
Mark wants us to hear His intimacy with the Father. In Gethsemane, our Lord addressed Him as “Abba” (14:36), the intimate term for “Father.” Using this title for God was considered too informal and presumptuous as it implied a direct personal relationship. But the relationship between Father and Son could not be closer. Amazingly, because of what Christ has done for us, we can use that same title as we address our heavenly Father (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6). Can you not hear the Son’s intimacy in that word?
Mark wants us to hear His forsakenness. The Savior’s middle cry from the cross is the most mysterious: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (15:34), meaning, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As the iniquities of us all were laid upon Him, a holy God had to turn away. For us to be accepted, Christ must be forsaken. And Mark wants us to hear it in His own words.
Interestingly, these four sayings were all addressed to people who could not or would not hear them. Jairus’ daughter was dead. The man in Mark 7 was deaf. They could not hear. Christ prayed, “Abba … remove this cup,” but it was not removed. It was the Father’s will that Christ drink that cup, and the Lord Jesus submitted Himself to His will. His cry on the cross was not answered. The verse Christ quoted is followed by “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer” (Psa 22:2 ESV). So these Aramaic words were not heard/answered by those addressed. But Mark wants us to hear them. And when we listen to the Savior in His own words, we hear again His tenderness, His authority, His intimacy and His great sorrow. A lot is said in just eight words.
