Jesus’ gestures to heal the man were common in ancient healing stories, both in Hellenistic and Jewish ones—namely touching a person, using saliva, uttering deep groans, and using foreign words. However, the similarities with other ancient healing traditions is no reason to believe that Mark invented the details to conform to the usual practice
.1 Jesus might have followed this protocol in order that the man might know what is happening with him.2 Although Jesus followed these protocols in this instance, his healing power did not lie in the gestures or in the specific words uttered, but in the authority of his word.3
33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.