messianic secret in Mark (and Luke)

[© tweed]

numerous times in the Gospel of Mark Jesus tells a follower who correctly 'guesses' that he is the Christ to maintain secrecy, "commanded him to tell no one".  a few examples:

Mark 3:11-12  And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

Mark 4:33-34 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Mark 8:29-30 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

there are more examples.  http://users.ox.ac.uk/~sben0056/essays/messianicsecret.htm



thoughts on why Jesus felt the need to hide aspects of the nature of his mission from the outside world?

[Free Speech Enjoyer]

Hmm.  My best guess is that there was more work to be done, and to prematurely leak such information would be detrimental to Jesus' mission.  Also keep in mind that Jesus was a humble man even though he had God in him.  Jesus wanted his message to be shouted louder than his name.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I see it as evidence that the purpose of the ministry of Christ Jesus was to primarily to lead people in the direction of righteousness and not in the direction of worshiping God without making a change in their behavior.  Indeed, the temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness at the start of his ministry as the Christ was to make it a ministry emphasizing his glory and power rather than the need of people to repent and seek righteousness.  While the miracles ascribed to him served to mark him as one with power, they are not the reason he came, nor does he seek those who would follow him for that reason.  That is why he said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ”

Hence his urgings to not dwell upon his miracles was to help keep those who might sail the course of repentance and righteousness from being caught upon the shoals of the worship of power.