He told them not to tell... why?

[PerAnnum]

There are four instances in Mark where Jesus heals a person and then tells him not to tell anyone. Mark 1:43-45, 5:42, 7:36, and 8:26.

I've heard people say that this is because He was very humble and didn't want to go off saying He was the Messiah and all. But that's rediculous. Sure, He was humble, but He stood in the middle of the synagogue plenty of times and told everyone He was the Christ, and they nearly stoned Him to death. I've also read that Mark made it all up. But we know this isn't true either.

What are some thoughts? :confused:

[subterranean]

Maybe Jesus wanted to see how big their gratitude and whether they'd still spread the wods (as expression of thanks), regardless of what Jesus' said. If I'm not mistaken, there's also verse that said that Jesus' popularity increased, due to the stories of people he healed, people who Jesus told not to tell stories..


Sure, He was humble, but He stood in the middle of the synagogue plenty of times and told everyone He was the Christ, and they nearly stoned Him to death.

I don't think he was being arogant. In his version he was just telling who he was.... that he was the living prophecy of old tastement. Whether we believe it or not, that's anothes issue. We also find such case in the story of Mohammad.

[byquist]

Very good question. There must be many reasons that folks have pondered and put in Bible commentaries.

I can think of one possibility at the moment. That he didn't want them to glorify in the physical healing, but rather think about living a new and fresher inner perspective on life. If they made too much of being healed, then they didn't really understand much of the significance of what was going on. Anyone who has a physical healing in this manner today, and then excessively blabs about it, might be liable to a relapse, or a sickness in another part of the body. If you believe you possess a vulnerable physical body, even if one appendage is cured, another could fall apart. Jesus was interested in the entire persona, not just a specific disease. In fact, he wasn't interested in disease, but rather health.

[Nightshade]

Im no expert but could it be that like with any good deed blabing about it afterwards diminishes from its goodness?
Or in a muslim interpritation of jeusus, it could be that he was afraid that people would claim that he did it with his own powers and not through the grace of God and people would follow him because of the physical good he could do them and not beccasue they listened to a word he said.



We also find such case in the story of Mohammad.
What do you mean sub? If you dont mind telling the story?

[Pendragon]

Im no expert but could it be that like with any good deed blabing about it afterwards diminishes from its goodness?
Or in a muslim interpritation of jeusus, it could be that he was afraid that people would claim that he did it with his own powers and not through the grace of God and people would follow him because of the physical good he could do them and not beccasue they listened to a word he said.
I will claim no expertise either, but I agree with Nightshade a lot. Even from a Christian point of view people seemed to be following Jesus not because of who He was, but because of the miracles He performed. As it was the soul that was most important, that would be the wrong reason. So He told them to be quiet about their healing perhaps to get them focused on what was most important.
God bless. :angel:

[subterranean]

As far as I know, he was said to be the last and most important prophet, as God already sent many before him and no one sent after him.

My point is that we see many religious leaders claimed or were claimed as the messengers of God. Which one is the right one, is merely depends on subjectivity :)


What do you mean sub? If you dont mind telling the story?

[subterranean]

I think there's verse, both in old and new testaments which said "by his stripes, we would/already been healed (more or less). So, I don't see why the miracles must be kept secret, as I think people should be made known that the verses were actually reffered to Jesus...
Or, are the verses refers to Jesus' sacrifice?


I will claim no expertise either, but I agree with Nightshade a lot. Even from a Christian point of view people seemed to be following Jesus not because of who He was, but because of the miracles He performed. As it was the soul that was most important, that would be the wrong reason. So He told them to be quiet about their healing perhaps to get them focused on what was most important.
God bless. :angel:

[Ha lelu Yah']

The principle set down in words by the apostle Paul at 2 Corinthians 5:7, “for we are walking by faith, not by sight” has much to do the reasoning of Jesus and with his orders. You would think that witnessing a miracle would cause people to believe and to have faith. But not necessarily is that so.

Perhaps you remember how almost immediately after all the miracles preformed by God against Egypt the Israelites showed their lack of faith when Moses “took a long time” on Mount Sinai, that is 40 days, while God was giving Moses the Law and the beginnings of the Bible and some of the Israelites reverted to the pagan Egyptian calf worship.

The same thing was true of the majority in Jesus day. The Israelites were following Jesus not out of faith but only for selfish and self-serving reasons. There are several such incidents recorded in John chapter 6 and 7 that you can read if you want to verify my statements. At John 6:26 it says: “Jesus answered them and said: “Most truly I say to you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate from the loaves and were satisfied.” Therefore, on several occasions Jesus basically had to escape from the crowds that were chasing after him for the wrong reasons.

Therefore when Jesus ordered that they not tell it was because he did not want to be publicly advertised in the streets and have the populace make their decision regarding him on the basis of such circulated sensational reports. He wanted the people to see and hear for themselves and decide on the basis of their own personal experience with him and mostly based on his message.

It was for this same reason that he charged his disciples not to advertise him as the Messiah. Instead of publicizing this in the streets and raising this issue for settlement in such public places, on the basis of the reports of the disciples, let each individual investigate and make his own decision on the basis of the evidence. Hence it was that when Jesus asked his disciples who men said he was he found that some thought him Elijah, or John the Baptist, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then he asked his disciples what they thought, and Peter expressed their belief, “You are the Christ.” “Then he sternly charged the disciples not to say to anybody that he was the Christ.” Let everyone make his own decision, just as this discussion with his disciples showed that they were doing, and coming to various conclusions. They had the Hebrew Scriptures and knew the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and they could see Jesus’ works and hear his words. Let them decide for themselves and do so based on the proper motives and for the right reasons. (Matt. 16:13-20)

Thus when nettled Jews said irritably, “If you are the Christ, tell us outspokenly,” Jesus replied, “The works which I am doing in the name of my Father, these bear witness about me.” (John 10:24, 25) It is true that Jesus did acknowledge to the Samaritan woman at the well that he was the Messiah, and she told the men of her city, and these Samaritan men came and heard Jesus. But note that their decision was based on what they heard Jesus say, and not on what the woman had told them: “They began to say to the woman: ‘We do not believe any longer on account of your talk; for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this man is for a certainty the savior of the world.’” (John 4:7-42) Only after he was put under oath before the chief priests and Sanhedrin would he identify himself as the Messiah to them, but before he did even then he said, “That was for you to say.” It was for them to say whether he was the Messiah or not, on the basis of the evidence. The decision was for them to make, their responsibility. (Matt. 26:63, 64) Similarly, when before Pilate and that official asked whether Jesus was a king, Jesus said, “It is for you to say that I am a king.” The decision was for Pilate to make. (John 18:37)

So Jesus did not want men to believe on him because others had talked them into it. He wanted them to decide for themselves whether his words and acts fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah or not. He did not want any decision to be based on sensational reports passed from mouth to mouth and enlarged upon, or on noisy advertising of him in the streets. He was not out for publicity of that kind, as the Pharisees were. (Matt. 6:2, 5) The Bible establishes this at Matthew 12:15-19: “He cured them all, but he strictly charged them not to make him manifest; that it might be fulfilled what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, who said: ‘Look! my servant whom I chose, my beloved, whom my soul approved! I will put my spirit upon him, and he will make clear to the nations what judgment is. He will not wrangle, nor cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the broad ways.’” (Isaiah 42:2) So Jesus’ prohibition on the promiscuous advertising of his miracles and Messiahship was in fulfillment of prophecy.

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[okmit]

Ha lelu Yah',well said an welcome.
Jesus lived as he instructed us to.All chairitable acts are to be done anonymously for the Greater Glory of God.If you recieve praise from man for your good deeds,God will consider you paid.It should be an easy pick.You can choose a moment of glory for yourself from the masses (that in an instant will turn on you an nail you to a tree )or, keep your mouth shut an keep it just between you an God Almighty and recieve just rewards for eternity...Hmm?

[Rosalind]

Good points, Hal lelu Yah. I'd like to add that part of the reason is because of the book and writer of Mark. The entire book is in the formate of a 'journey,' both geographical and spiritual, and the main themes it deals with are the messianic mystery, the passion, and the meaning of discipleship. All of these themes were very relevant to Mark's audience, because these were the earliest Christians, the ones who could very literally be asked to suffer and die for their faith at any given time.
The messianic mystery is addressed throughout the book. It's like a puzzle that you're supposed to put together--not because you don't know the answer. Anyone who reads Mark knows that it ends with Jesus' ressurection and ascension, even if they don't accept it as truth. But Mark want disciples and propsective disciples to follow the same journey as the Apostles, figuring out Jesus' identity and accepting it on a spiritual level, as well as a mental one. After all, and child can go to sunday school and say "Jesus is God our Savior," but really, it's a complex concept that shouldn't be taken for granted.
I hope I've been a litte coherent--I'm afraid I've got to run.

[PerAnnum]

Nice.
I really can't say WHY Jesus did some of the things He did, but I like to think of good reasons. I think maybe the reason Jesus told these people not to tell is because, just maybe, He wanted people to love Him and believe in Him because of who He really was... not because He could heal them. As was said before, His popularity spread after He did these things, and we see in the bible that He couldn't even enter some cities because the crowds were so big. I don't think He didn't want to minister to these people, or that He didn't want to heal people, nor do I think He was arrogant what-so-ever.... I just simply think He wanted them to love Him. I find, even in my own life that I tend to pay attention to God more when I need something, like healing. We see a lot that people who are on their death beds or very sickly give their lives to the Lord... which is great... hey, I'd rather them give their lives to Jesus than die and never know Him. But don't you think that Jesus would have rather them given their lives to Him when they were little kids? Or even earlier in their lives because they loved Him? It's like a saying a hear a lot in the Christian arena, "God wants us to seak His face, not His hand." That's maybe why He did that... just maybe?

[ThatIndividual]

Quite simply, it was too soon to let the word out. Christ had not yet identified himself as Christ. If you'll notice, in the very next section after the last instance which you mentioned (Mark Chapter 8) is where Jesus asks Peter, 'whom do men say that I am?' Had word gotten around that this guy was going around and healing people by laying on of hands early on in his ministry, he would have never been able to fulfill his earthly ministry because of the authorities. They would surely have accused him of witchcraft and branded him an evil heretic. His time had not yet come for crucifixion.

[ThatIndividual]

Perannum, I can't help but ask... I notice that you write something to the effect of: "I've read that Mark made it all up, but we know this isn't true." (It is indeed a paraphrase, do please pardon my inaccuracy.)

My interest is in your confident assertion of knowledge. 'We know this isn't true.' How is it that you know this? (Please understand that my inquiry is intended to be purely academic in spirit, with only the utmost respect and reverence for your beliefs.)

[rachel]

Ha lelu Ya,

As a Jewess desended from the House of David, the line and tribe of Judah I wish to comment upon your generalization and from a couple of scriptures you quoted about what our Lord said concerning the Israelites following Moses out of the land of bondage. When you quote something you must know all the history around it and have read some of the works of the early church fathers of the first century and so on or else you will miss the real truth.
When father Abraham entered into covenant with the Most High and Glorious God and then fell into a terrible and troubled dream, God showed him that our people would fall into bondage for four hundred years, being a significant number to us. And thus it came about. So for four hundred years our backs were bowed and our spirits broken under the whip of the Pharoahs, some more and some less. By the time Moses was born into the world although nothing written was allowed us to remember the Lord our God and His love and promises, we still had the oral traditions and longed to be restored to our God. Gentiles often look at us and point fingers but how many times in a week do we all sin and fall short and turn our backs on God morally or in honesty, integrity, whatever. At any rate because we had lived in Egypt so very long we became in effect gentiles in most of our ways. It is the same if you move into someone's house and after six months notice you are doing a lot of the same little things they do, it is natural.
So the people Moses took away were in many respects more Egyptian than Israeli and had to be reeducated all over, taught from square one as it were. Of course we could understand something physical like bread and manna, that was easy. The believing in an unseen God and trusting implicitly in Him was hard having been surrounded by hundreds of strange Gods. It takes time to learn all over again and it did and so we acted in the same pagan way the Egyptians did. Even Aaron under pressure acted this way.Moses had had years to be trained and deprogrammed as it were from the lies and pagan understandings of Egypt, not to say all pharoahs acted that way, some lines were actually quite like the children of God.
I just had to say my little bit because to just throw in a scripture here and there without knowing all the dynamics is very harmful and can hurt and wound and confuse people.I am now a Messianic Jew and my whole family are well learned in the ancient scripts and still studying. truly the more you learn the more you see what you do not know. But Jesus said before He ascended: 'when He(Holy Spirit) comes He will lead you into all truth and righteousness." And the Boreans didn't just believe what ever someone told them but"looked into all things carefully to make sure they were so."I can see you love God and love the scriptures so thought I would make my little comment.

[PerAnnum]

Perannum, I can't help but ask... I notice that you write something to the effect of: "I've read that Mark made it all up, but we know this isn't true." (It is indeed a paraphrase, do please pardon my inaccuracy.)

My interest is in your confident assertion of knowledge. 'We know this isn't true.' How is it that you know this? (Please understand that my inquiry is intended to be purely academic in spirit, with only the utmost respect and reverence for your beliefs.)

Because... in all reality (what we know as reality anyway), Christianity is based purely on believing. We have to believe that Jesus was the Son of God... But, somehow, in that believing, we come to know. Like the word says "You will know them by their fruit..." It's talking about more than just people. I know that Christianity is true because the fruit I see in life. I know it's true... I probably should have said that... but by "we" I meant more like "we as Christians." Becuase the Word of God is not false... none of it.
Thanx for your politeness.... did I spell that right? I dunno.

[Countess]

I heard something entirely different. Mark told them not to tell because "it was not yet time." This demonstrates that God had appointed the time and the hour of his sacrifice (Pre-destination) and Jesus obeyed his father's command (free-will).

Now Arminians and Calvinists, play nice.

T

[ThatIndividual]

PerAnnum,
My trouble is this. When I was a Christian, I knew because I was also able to see the fruit. However, I realized one day that the fruit doesn't necessarily mean anything about the obobjective truth of the gospel. For instance, if someone had merely dreamed up the entire thing... Say for instance, (only a hypothetical) that someone had made the entire story up from imagination. Had this been the case, it's so full of wonderful morals and lessons and such, that it would likely produce the very same fruits. Whether or not it's true wouldn't matter if you really have the faith.
Therefore, the "I know because I see the fruit, just like the Bible says" argument is really quite illogical and unsound. It's the age old "POST AD HOC, ERGO PROPTER HOC" fallacy. It's a Latin term, meaning: "After this, therefore because of this."
If a person becomes a Christian, then begins to show the fruits of the Spirit as defined in the scripture, it does not logically follow that Christianity must be the truth. Many Muslims, many Buddhists, many people of all LOVE-based religions show these same fruits of the spirit.

Once again, I write you with the utmost reverence and respect for your beliefs. I only wish to discourse, logically and academically, as friends and companions in search of truth. (Regardless of whether or not we believe that we've found it already. Let us never be deceived and caused to stop growing! God would never will that, for God is Love and God is good.)

[ThatIndividual]

:) :) Your thoughts are eagerly awaited and appreciated.

[PerAnnum]

I understand what you are saying, Individual, I do. And, like yourself, I don't claim to know everything about truth and religion and love and even God. But I do BELIEVE that we as humans are rather... what's the word... ignorant when it comes to logic. I don't base a lot of things on logic, and maybe I'm wrong for that... but I also am not one to go off on a whim and impulse, as in "follow your heart." The bible tells us that the heart will decieve you, becuase no one knows the heart but the Father.
Now, as for your argument on fruit... You're right, it is kind of a dead end and irrational. But only if you look at it in that light. I've never been a part of any other religion... so I can't say that Buddhism or Islam don't produce the same feelings of love as Christianity. But, to my knowledge, (and, I'm sorry, but I am very naive in this area) Budah and Muhammed didn't send a "helper"....
Now, I'm not here "bashing" other religions, I love people, no matter race or religion or beliefs. I AM saying that the Holy Spirit teaches me and guides me in all truth. And the fact of the matter is that the story of Jesus, the FACT of Jesus and His ministry wasn't dreamt up by some guy. It really happened. Jesus was a man, a good man, who died on the cross... History says that.... But what I KNOW is that He was also the Messiah that was prophesied about throughout the old testiment, and He IS my Lord and Savior.
***This is written with absolutely no hostility, by the way***
I don't expect you to come back saying "Oh, you're right... I see now!!!" :) And I don't even know that I answered any of your questions... But thank you... you are making me think... and that's good... I need that.

[ThatIndividual]

:) That's what God put me here for, my friend. :) Thank you for being such a good sport about it. :)