Though Jesus is depicted as a miracle worker like others, each detail in the account points to a feature exclusive to Jesus. When he lays hands on people, he is also overturning the purity prohibition against touching what is unclean and contaminating oneself in doing so. His use of saliva reflects the belief that it contained some of his own personal power. He looks up to heaven and groans, but it is considered by many to be a form of prayer. The healing may have been surrounded by familiar miracle elements, but the miracle itself is accomplished by Jesus’ command: Be opened! At the heart of Jesus’ ministry is his teaching about the reign of God. Here he unstops the man’s ears so that now he can hear and be open to the message of this reign.