Keeping it a secret it Mark
May 6, 2011
In reading Mark, I can’t help but wonder why Jesus told people to be quiet about certain miracles. What’s even more baffling is that they ignore this command. so, for example, in chapter one of Mark Jesus commands grown men to follow him, and they follow (1:17). Jesus effortlessly drives out demons (1:25). Jesus miraculously heals people (1:31). Jesus cures the leprous (1:42). But when Jesus tells the leprous not to tell about it, his command is ignored. This shocks me, coming as it does at the climax of chapter one.
Elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus commands the sea to be calm (4:39), commands legions of demon to come out (5:8), and commands a dead girl to come back to life (5:41). But when Jesus commands people to be quiet, his command is ignored.
I do not know the answer to this, perhaps I am reading way to much into the text, so let me simply offer an open-ended question: Does the phenomenon of people ignoring Jesus’ commands reveal anything about the nature of man in relation to God? Is it significant that perhaps the only imperative of Jesus in Mark that is not fulfilled is the one given to people?
Andy
Good question. I don’t really have an answer either. It is funny how the things that aren’t supposed to obey like demons, dead people, fig trees, wind and waves, etc. often do obey, but people who can rationalize the words of Christ don’t obey.
Well put!