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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
After healing a man of leprosy (Mark 1:41-42), 'Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone...'' (Mark 1:43-44). To our way of thinking, it would seem...
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Michael Sisson
Supporter
Alternatively, as He repeatedly states in the Gospels, Jesus knew He would be despised and rejected even unto death. Moreover, He knew His followers could expect rejection as well, even unto death. In some cases, when Jesus bid those He healed not to discuss it with others, He may have been seeking to protect them. For we read of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead... John 12:9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He [Jesus] was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
Grant Abbott
Supporter
I don't think Jesus was concerned that focusing on his miracles would distract people from his hearing his message. Commanding the person who was healed not to tell anyone is not going to stop the hundreds of eyewitnesses from telling all their families and friends. It was his miraculous deeds that drew people to him. Then his gospel message captivated their hearts. I am saddened when I hear that Christians don't want to see miracles in our churches because it would be a distraction from the gospel message. My heart's desire is that every Christian church would have miracles performed during every service. If this happened I believe every Christian church would be packed to the rafters. Millions of people would hear the gospel message and receive their salvation through faith in Christ. Isn't that why Jesus was sent on his mission - to save many people. Personally, I believe there are 3 possible reasons why Jesus commanded people not to tell anyone about their miraculous healing. 1) To avoid the person suffering at the hands of the Jewish leaders A person telling others about their miraculous healing would draw the attention of the Jewish leaders. They may be interrogated, mocked, ridiculed, told they were a fake and a fraud and ordered to cease and desist or they would be flogged or imprisoned. Remember what happened to the crippled man at the gate called Beautiful who was healed. Jesus wants to spare each person, who has just received an outpouring of the grace of God, from the wrath of the world who hates what he is doing. 2) To avoid a person becoming proud, self-exalted and attracting their own following. People hearing about their healing may be motivated to follow the person who was healed instead of Jesus. Remember the people who thought that Peter's shadow could heal their sick family members. How quickly people turn away from following Jesus and follow some other human being. Paul had to correct the Corinthian church because people proudly said they were followers of "Paul", "Apollos", or "Cephas" but not Jesus Christ. When a person remains quiet about their healing it keeps them humble and thankful to Jesus and protects them from the damaging effects of pride. 3) Jesus mission would take him to the cross at the timing of his Father. Jesus was destined to be crucified on the cross and this would take place on the Day of Passover, when the lambs were sacrificed, because his was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. But it was up to his Father to decide how many years of ministry Jesus had before the right Passover Day came for his ultimate sacrifice. Allowing people to broadcast their miraculous healing (or allowing demons to declare " I know who you are, the Holy One of God") would raise the level of hatred from the Jewish leaders and they would take action sooner to have Jesus eliminated. Remember, even at the end, the Jewish leaders struggled to find a means to charge, convict and kill him, because after 3 years of ministry, his popularity with the people was overwhelming. The people would revolt against their leaders if they openly arrested and killed Jesus. Jesus actions were always designed to obey the Father's will and that includes the timing of his death. Please, let's not disparage miracles from the hand of God in our churches. He longs for his grace to overflow for the benefit of all his people. God knows how to get his message across to people that are attracted by sensational events. We just need to be faithful to share the gospel and to pray for miracles of healing and deliverance in all our churches so his name will be glorified by the millions of more people he wants to save.
Jim New
Supporter
The above statements may be correct but here is something to think about: If Jesus healed you today of your illness or whatever wouldnt you be so happy that you couldnt contain yourself, you were just so thrilled you had to tell others, it was a miracle from the living God and you could not keep it to yourself you just had to tell your friends and loved ones about this amazing miracle, a wow factor! I believe Jesus used reverse psychology bc he wanted the word to get out about who he was! "Dont tell anyone" but how could I not, I was so filled with inexpressable joy I couldnt contain myself, the living God healed me! Just a thought!
Tabi Jozwick
Supporter
Jesus might gave that warning because He doesn't want people to think that the only thing that He does is to heal people. He actually wanted people to turn their lives around.
Matt Horton
Supporter
I haven’t heard Christians asking for miracles not to be performed...I believe they should. I also believe that to grow one’s faith, that all things shouldn’t be shown, ie, having mass miracles displayed every week...they could happen privately as those during Christ’s ministry.
Justin Hale
Supporter
I would like to address the question that was 'merged' with this one, because I believe that it contains an element that this question does not. It asked, 'Why did Jesus sometimes tell the people He had just healed to keep the miracle quiet, while He did the opposite in the case of 'Legion' and the man who was delivered from this bizarre demonic possession?' "And they came to Jesus and observed the demon-possessed man sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had the “legion”; and they became frightened. "And those who had seen it recounted to them how this had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. And they began to plead with Him to leave their region." (Mark 5:15-17). In the many other cases where Jesus was actively healing, the populations were dense and towns or villages close together. Had the word spread of these miracles and the 'arriving Messiah,' there was little to stop civil unrest from breaking out, especially since the popular notion at the time was that the Christ would be a military king arriving to violently deliver them from Roman oppression. While the Lord's Holy Spirit later did cause the total 'peaceful' collapse and historical demise of the Roman Empire, (as prophesied), Jesus knew that the thought of a violent 'payback' was fresh in the minds and hearts of the Jewish people who may even try to 'start a revolt,' confident that Yahweh would back them up based on this newly exhibited miraculous power. You can be sure that Satan had this in mind too. So that is why Jesus kept a lid on the 'close quarters' miracles. But in the case of 'Legion,' this was clearly a pretty isolated farming community and everyone there knew about the 'dangerous raving derelict' that kept people away from their entire region. They didn't even get many 'visitors' from outside of their area because scripture says that people used to go out of their way for miles just to avoid potentially confronting the infamous 'Legion.' So Jesus knew that the response of these isolated people would not be to abandon their rural lifestyles and head into the more populated towns to 'start a revolt,' but to simply ask Him to leave out of fear and amazement. That is exactly what happened.
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