Who should keep quiet about Jesus?
In the opening ceremony of the recent Paris Olympics, a scene was included that appeared to be a re-enactment of Leonardo’s ‘Last Supper’ that was modelled by sexualised drag queens. Some Roman Catholic bishops in the United States complained as did a few call-ins to chat shows. Would the organisers have depicted a scene with Muhammad in such a way? Does it not bother Christian leaders when their Lord is depicted in such a demeaning way? This raises the question, ‘Who and when should Christians speak out?’
In the first half of his gospel, Mark sets out a very strong case from first hand witnesses that Jesus is the miracle working Messiah and Saviour of the world, that the Old Testament prophets foretold would enter his world. Then comes the climax. After all this evidence was made available to people, what was their conclusion about who Jesus is? The disciples told Jesus,
“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Mark 8:28
It is striking that the onlookers did recognise that Jesus had come from another world as John the Baptist, Elijah and the other prophets had all died! Jesus however wanted those who has followed him for over a year to have a better answer:
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Mark 8:29
The mass of evidence had convinced at least some of the disciples and Peter, their spokesman, replied
“You are the Messiah.”
It would seem that at last the light had dawned but Jesus then said something strange in the light of what he was later to say to his disciples about going into all the world and making disciples of all people (Matthew 28:19). Here he says the very opposite,
“Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.” Mark 8:30
Why didn’t Jesus want his being the Messiah to be talked about?
Since the beginning of Mark’s gospel we repeatedly read that Jesus forbade evil spirits, the crowds, those who had been healed and even his disciples from telling people that he was the Messiah. Only much later was this was to change. Here are examples of what Jesus said to different groups.
Evil Spirits
In Mark 1:24–25, Jesus commands a demon to “be silent,” and this direction runs through Mark’s Gospel.
Later in this opening chapter Jesus healed many of various diseases and drove out many demons but again we read,
“. . . but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” Mark 1:34
Why did Jesus not want people to know that he was the Messiah foretold throughout the Old Testament?
People he had healed and their witnesses
A little later Jesus was inundated by people coming to him to be healed:
“For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.” Mark 3:10-12
When Jesus healed a man of leprosy early in his ministry he expressly commanded,
“Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ‘See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest . . .’” Mark 1:42-44
When Jesus had restored Jairus’ dead daughter to life we read,
“He gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about this . . .” Mark 5:43
After Jesus had healed a deaf mute man we read,
“At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. Mark 7:35-37
The healing of the blind man at Bethsaida was a parable as well as a miracle. At first he could only see unclearly but with a second touch he ‘saw everything clearly’.
“Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” Mark 8:25-26
Why all this secrecy?
Jesus purpose was to present the evidence that he was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament through his miracles, his teaching and his pedigree as a direct descendant of King David. The effect of this was that he was being besieged by thousands who seemed most interested in his miracles. Yet this was not Jesus’ prime aim. The people had a very different view of what they wanted the Messiah to do for them. However Jesus had not come to establish a kingdom on earth but an eternal kingdom. His main ambition was to convince and train a band of twelve disciples who would later go out to persuade the world about Jesus.
Many theories were floating around about who Jesus really was.
“King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” Mark 6:14-16
These were the ideas that the disciples had reported to Jesus:
“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” Mark 8:28
Some wondered if Jesus was an earthly Messiah, a Davidic king, who would re-establish Jerusalem’s monarchy and freedom from Roman occupation much as the Maccabean rulers had done when they overcame the Seleucid occupation and ruled an independent Israel between 104 - 63 BC. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the crowds shouted out
“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” Mark 11:9-10
Clearly few of this crowd understood the nature of God’s kingdom or what God’s Messiah was going to achieve. His purpose was not to establish an earthly kingdom but a spiritual eternal kingdom.
The major reason Jesus wanted people to keep quiet about his miraculous powers was because his main purpose was to teach about and admit people into the kingdom of God. When, early in his ministry, Jesus was being inundated with people seeking healing he got up very early in the morning to pray alone. Crowds were collecting so his disciples went out to look for him:
“ . . . and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Mark 1:37-38
Disciples
We have already seen that Jesus had forbidden his disciples, even after they had realised that he was the Messiah, from talking about this.
“Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.” Mark 8:30
After Peter, James and John had seen Jesus transfigured on a mountain, in the presence of Elijah and Moses, into the likeness of God they were also told:
“As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Mark 9:9
At this stage in Jesus’s ministry, he began to speak “plainly” (Mark 8:32) to his disciples. Jesus makes it abundantly clear that his messianic mission was very different to that of the masses and even that of his disciples, but would entail rejection, death, and resurrection. This victory was so very different to that which many were hoping for:
“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31
“He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.” Mark 9:31-32
“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” Mark 10:33–34
In spite of this triple repetition even his disciples did not understand that he as God’s Messiah had to die as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. His subsequent resurrection would prove this claim to be the Son of God and that he had come a the Messiah to die for sin.
Until Jesus’ death and resurrection the disciples still had not understand. Peter rebuked Jesus for saying he was about to die, but Jesus called this response satanic!
“But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Mark 8:32–33
The disciples still did not grasp what Jesus was about.
“. . . they did not understand the saying.” Mark 9:32
Surely this was why Jesus commanded his disciples and the witnessers of his miracles to be silent was because they did not understand what his purpose was.
Mark’s gospel finishes by stressing this major problem, that misunderstanding and therefore fear can prevent people passing on the glorious message that God’s Messiah had indeed entered his world, he had died as the final sin offering and that this offering had been accepted by God because His Son was raised from the dead. When the addendum at the end of Mark is omitted the book ends:
“Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” Mark 16:8
Luke’s gospel makes it clear what the real message about Jesus was to be. When he met them in the upper room in the evening of Easter Sunday he made everything clear about what they were to teach, and this was what the Jewish Scriptures taught:
“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Acts 24:45-48
Who should speak today?
After Jesus’ resurrection everything changed. What Jesus taught his disciples during that final time after his resurrection can be deduced from how they changed.. Jesus was now confident that the understood God’s good news clearly.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 29:18-20
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
They now understood that the churches message is all about Jesus and this had to be publicised by the way Christians live as well as by what they say. After experiencing the Holy Spirit, who came on all the Christians, they became courageous. All the onlookers understood their message about the wonder of God appearing in Jesus, even those who spoke other languages. What is highly significant is that now their message is clear. This always centred on who Jesus is, the Son of God who rose from the dead, and what his death achieved, the forgiveness of sin for all who become his people.
Peter, who had been so unclear about the sort of Messiah Jesus was, is now certain.
Peter’s first sermon
In his first sermon he emphasises that God’s message is about who Jesus is and what he has done for all people. This message demands a response.
“Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:33-36
When the crowd heard this message they were ‘cut to the heart’ as some of them had been involved in asking for Jesus’ execution. They asked,
“Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37
Peter told them the response God required:
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
This has remained the cornerstone of Christian teaching. Repent, change the direction of your life from living for self to living for Jesus and you are forgiven all your sin, you are considered righteous in God’s eyes, and you will be empowered to live a new life centred on living for Jesus. The Holy Spirit always points people to Jesus. Three thousand men committed their lives to Jesus that day and were baptised.
Peter’s second sermon
Peter gave his second sermon after a lame beggar, who regularly sat at the entrance to the temple, had been miraculously healed in the name of Jesus. The healed man was dancing around and was clearly the focus of attention but Peter wanted to move the focus onto Jesus, the ‘holy and righteous One’ whom they had disowned and killed (Acts 3:34). The point Peter stresses is that people’s sins must be forgiven if we are to be a peace with the Lord and this is only available through faith in Jesus, a real commitment to follow him.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:19-21
Peter stressed that Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophecies given by Moses and the other prophets – he is simply passing on what he had learned from Jesus earlier. The priests and Sadducees in Jerusalem were very concerned because the apostles focussed on Jesus’ resurrection and so theyt had Peter and John arrested. However the apostles message was believed and the early church grew to five thousand men.
Peter and John were subsequently rearrested and arraigned before the same Sanhedrin that just a few weeks before had condemned Jesus. However the apostles boldly told their accusers:
“Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Other apostles’s teaching
This is the message of the whole Bible. Man’s greatest problem is our sin because this separates us from God.
Paul included what is possibly the earliest Christian creed in his first letter to the Corinthians:
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
Later he wrote,
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” Romans 3:23-25
John was also very clear that the only way to be forgiven our sin was to be ‘in Christ’. This phrase comes 271 times in the New Testament and is in every book after the gospels. In his gospel John writes,
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
So who should be teaching this message?
A prophet is a man or woman who teaches people what God has said. One of the striking features of the New Testament is that now all God’s people are to be prophets and pass on this message that our sin separates us from God, that Jesus died for our sin and rose again so that he could be the first of a godly string of people who represent their Lord.
“Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” Acts 2:18
At Pentecost, when the Spirit of God was poured out on all Christ’s people, they all spoke to those around them about the Lord Jesus. Paul recognised that this was the responsibility of all who have been put right with God through being followers of Christ. I put it this way as there are many who say they believe in Christ cerebrally but who have yet to live with and for Christ.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
This urgent need has been explained in more detail in my book, ‘The Duty of a Disciple’. We have all been called to go and make disciples by sowing the Word of God in peoples’ minds.
Who should not be talking about Jesus?
Mark hs stressed that any, who are not clear about what Jesus the Messiah came to do, should say nothing. Jesus is not only our Saviour but our eternal judge and Lord.
I well remember attending the funeral of a man who had demonstrated no interest in Jesus for over fifty years. In fact he used to speak against him. At the funeral the minister stressed that the last time he had been in that church was fifty years before, when he had been married in that very same church. The minister then went on to reassure us all that the dead man was now in a ‘better place with God’. This is contrary to what the Bible teaches which is that only those who are ‘in Christ’ will be with him in heaven. For example:
“ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36
Forgiveness of sin is only available to those living ‘in Christ’. Shouldn’t church authorities have the courage to follow their Lord and master and stop such false teachers from preaching in Christ’s name? Only those sharing the apostolic message should teach others, it is their message that is the foundation of God’s church. Paul’s warning needs to be heard again today:
“Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” Galatians 1:7-9
What a tragedy it is when Christians, especially those in leadership roles, have lost their ‘first love’ for the Lord Jesus and when their messages fail to focus on him.
