Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Jesus Christ
Jesus set strict limits on how and when His identity was made known, at times telling the healed, the demons, and even His own disciples not to say who He was. This was not secrecy for its own sake. Jesus came to reveal Himself, but on His own timing and terms, keeping the confession of His name tied to the cross and resurrection, so that the Christ would not be reduced to a rumor of a wonder-worker before the work was finished.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/why-did-jesus-tell-people-not-to-reveal-who-he-was · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Mark 1:21-45
As you read: Jesus tells the healed leper to say nothing to anybody and silences the demons who knew Him: the revelation is kept under His control.
21They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
24saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”
25Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
27They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”
28The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
29Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
31He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.
32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons.
33All the city was gathered together at the door.
34He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
36Simon and those who were with him followed after him;
37and they found him, and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.”
39He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
40A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
41Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”
42When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
43He strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out,
44and said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
45But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places: and they came to him from everywhere.
Mark 3:7-12
As you read: The unclean spirits cry out that He is the Son of God, and Jesus strictly orders them not to make Him known.
7Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
8from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.
9He spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the crowd, so that they wouldn’t press on him.
10For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.
11The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, “You are the Son of God!”
12He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.
Mark 8:27-38
As you read: After Peter's confession, Jesus commands the disciples to tell no one, and immediately begins to teach that the Son of Man must suffer.
27Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”
28They told him, “John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.”
29He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
30He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.
31He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”
34He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
36For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
37For what will a man give in exchange for his life?
38For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 9:1-10
As you read: After the transfiguration, Jesus tells them to keep silent until after He rises from the dead: the full unveiling is tied to the cross.
1He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”
2After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.
3His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
5Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
6For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.
7A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
8Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only.
9As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the “rising from the dead” meant.
Matthew 16:13-28
As you read: He tells them not to say He is the Christ, and from that same moment begins to teach plainly that He must suffer and die and rise.
13Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
18I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it.
19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
20Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
21From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
22Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.”
23But he turned, and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
26For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.
28Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
The pattern is unmistakable. Jesus did not allow the demons to speak 'because they knew him.' When the unclean spirits cried that He was the Son of God, 'he sternly warned them that they should not make him known.' He told the healed leper, 'See you say nothing to anybody.' And after Peter confessed Him as the Christ, Jesus 'commanded them that they should tell no one about him.'
“He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.”Mark 1:34
“He sternly warned them that they should not make him known.”Mark 3:12
“and said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.””Mark 1:44
“He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.”Mark 8:30
Jesus would not accept testimony from the unclean spirits, however accurate their confession. They knew who He was and cried, 'You are the Christ, the Son of God!' but Jesus rebuked them and 'didn't allow them to speak.' Truth from the wrong source at the wrong time would have fed the very rumors He was not there to spread. Jesus alone, on His own terms, controls how His name is proclaimed.
“The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, “You are the Son of God!””Mark 3:11
“Demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.”Luke 4:41
Again and again, the silence is broken by the cross. At the pivotal moment of Peter's confession, Jesus turns from concealment to the cross: He began to teach that the Son of Man must suffer many things, be killed, and rise again. At the transfiguration He charges them to tell no one 'until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.' Matthew notes that from the moment He told them not to say He was the Christ, He began to speak plainly of His death and resurrection. The revelation of who He is comes through what He came to do.
“He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”Mark 8:31
“As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”Mark 9:9
“Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.”Matthew 16:20
“From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”Matthew 16:21
Left unchecked, word of miracles would have made Jesus a spectacle before the work was done, a wonder-worker the crowds wanted on their terms, not a Savior who must suffer and die. By guarding the confession of His name, Jesus was guarding the meaning of who He is: He would not let His identity be detached from the cross. The hiddenness was the holiness of His mission, keeping Him free to do what He came to do.”
“and commanded them that they should not make him known:”Matthew 12:16
“He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice.”Isaiah 42:2-3
“Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”John 6:15
The season of secrecy served its purpose; it ended at the cross, the resurrection, and Pentecost. Now Jesus openly warns that whoever is ashamed of Him and His words in this generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when He comes in His Father's glory. He sends His disciples to make disciples of all nations and to let their light shine before others. The One who guarded His name until the work was finished now freely entrusts His name to us, and calls us to confess it boldly.
“For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.””Mark 8:38
“Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”Matthew 28:19
“Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”Matthew 5:16
“Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”Luke 24:45-47