Bible Question: Does anyone know why Jesus did not want the people he blessed or performed miracles on to tell anyone? The leper,parents of the damsel, man by the healing pool. and in St. Mark 3:10-12 |
Bible Answer: The answer regarding the incident you mention in Mark is the easiest, I think, so I'll start with that. In that passage (Mark 3.11-12) Jesus instructs the unclean spirits to not make him known (testify about who he really was). That was the kind of testimony Jesus did not desire, possibly because the evil spirits meant in some way to harm him by their testimony or possibly because their testimony would not be thought credible by any who heard it. In either case, Jesus knew that their testimony was not helpful to him or his purpose on earth. In a similar manner, though certainly with no malice, the testimony of men can sometimes be less than helpful to the cause of Christ. Jesus knew that, and on several occasions seems to understand the testimony about him wasn't one of faith in him, it was one of amazement at him. For instance, in Mark 7 Jesus is recorded as healing a man who is deaf and (basically) dumb. After the man's hearing and speech are restored Jesus tells the crowd ("them") to tell no one. He knew their focus was not on him, but on the miracle. In short, Jesus always tried to avoid misplaced or malevlolent testimony, even if it carried with it some element of truth. He really does look on the heart! |