The Deaf Hear

And they brought unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hands upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched the man's tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said unto him, "Ephphatha," which is Aramaic for, "Be opened." And straightaway his ears were opened, and his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.  And he commanded them that they should tell no man. But the more he commanded them, so much the more they spread it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear, and the mute to speak" (Mark 7:32-37).

And then one of the multitude answered and said unto him, "Rabbi, I have brought unto you my son, who has a mute spirit. Whenever it takes him, it tears him: and he foams at the mouth, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away. I spoke to your disciples that they should cast him out but they could not." He answered him, and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him unto me." And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightaway the spirit tore him. And he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming. And Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has it been since this first came upon him?" And he said, "Since he was a child. And oftentimes it has cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us!" Jesus said unto him, "If you can? Believe! All things are possible to him that believes." And immediately the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I do believe! Help me in the imperfection of my faith." When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!" And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him. And he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast him out?" And he said unto them, "This kind can come forth by nothing, except by prayer and fasting" (Mark 9:17-29).