How are you doing on the B90X reading plan? If you began on January 4 with graystone, then you should finish the book of Matthew today. As you read through the New Testament, write down your questions. Several people have been asking a ton of questions from their reading. I am thinking about doing a message series to answer the most popular Bible questions.
The most asked questions so far is, "When Jesus healed someone, why did he warn them not to tell anyone?" Do you know the answer? In my reading this morning in Mark 5, after Jesus heals the man from the legion of demons (BTW, trying to explain demon possession to a 12 year kid with an inquisitive mind is tough.), he tells him to go home to his family and tell them "how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you" (Mark 5:19).
So, in some cases, Jesus warns people not to tell anyone about him. Then, in other situations,he tells them to spread the news, which makes sense to me. So, back to the question, "Why would Jesus not want people to spread the news about him?"
Any thoughts?
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6 comments:
My thought was that Jesus wanted those he healed to give glory to God in their hearts for their healing, and not lip-service to Jesus. To go out and praise the miracle to all might foster a faith in those seeking healing for themselves that is false. In other words, it seems to me that Jesus wanted their faith to be with God BEFORE it was with him and his healng power, and not predicated on what Jesus could do for them personally. I may be way off here - I generally am.
I like Steve's thoughts. I also think it had to do with practicality. Sometimes Jesus ministered to the crowds and soemtimes He did things in a more private format. He knew if word spread, there would be crowds which sometimes forced Him out of town or kept Him from having privte moments.
Donna R.
Something Jesus kept saying that has stuck with me while I've been reading is "I desire compassion and not a sacrifice." He says this in Matt. 9:14 & 12:7 (I'm a little behind in my reading..) I'm reading from the NASB. I've always been taught that God requires sacrifice, so this statement seems contradictory, yet not...I don't know. I just keep praying that God will make clear to me what He means by that statement...
I really don't think that Christ was against the propagation of the Gospel. What was limited is who should be told about what Jesus did. I really believe that the issue had to do with public ministry, and the fact that His time was not yet come. It must of been based upon His forknowledge of events that would have occurred had the healings been public. In some respects that could have been bigger than the news that the Messiah had come. Our interpretation of isolated events should always coincide with God's and Christ's fundamental attributes. He wants us to be healed spiritually, He wants us to live forever, and He wants us to have faith and trust in Him, and He wants us to be a part of the global communication of the Gospel.
Dale R
My comment is unrelated to the above discussion, but since you asked for questions, I do have one. (: In Matthew 9:13, 12:7 Jesus says He desires mercy not sacrifice. Once he tells the people to learn what the statement means and once He tells the people they wouldn't have erred if they had understood the words. I know He is quoting from Hosea, and I remember similar words from David's mouth in Psalm 51:16. With this many mentions, I feel I should understand what the phrase "I desire mercy not sacrifice" means, and I don't know if I do. How exactly, do I show mercy to God, who is sinless and has never wronged me? Do I show Him mercy by loving 'the least of these'? I don't want to be legalistic about this b/c I think His statement is rooted in grace other than law... but I am examining my heart. I don't want my faith to be sacrifice-driven. Thanks, Angela Valenzuela
As Jesus tells us in:
John 12:49-50 - "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
This tells us everything Jesus said and did was from God. We can only speculate why He told some not to tell and others He did not. We can speculate that a bigger crowd could have been drawn for His hour had not yet come, or did not want the people to follow Him as little as possible seeing His miracles, or for their political view they had wanted of Him.
We know some He healed to give glory to God - Concerning a blind man Jesus healed His disciples asked why he was blind and John 9:3states:
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
But to try and get an answer & letting it bogg one down when God did not reveal, well it's just for our curiosity with our little minds and it's not to hinder our walk from what He has revealed. We step on sacred ground trying to figure God's plan in the time of fullness sending His Son to suffer tremendously and die a sacrificial death on a humiliating cross for all mankind when He did not explain it in His already written Word.
This question probably has crossed many a minds but never let it become a stumbling block. Concentrate on what He has revealed being obedient drawing you closer to God in being Christ like.
As for the answer to Matt 9:13 I believe you have to take in who Jesus was talking to and how the Pharisees were living their lives. They thought it was a sin to be around sinners exposing how hard their hearts were. Jesus was really rebuking - mocking them with their own phrase "Go & Learn" as they have used on others in front of everyone saying this. What Jesus was referring to was that they/we all need to do is show forgiveness and when coming to God with harden hearts with sacrifices was useless unless your heart was right full with forgiveness as God is willing to forgive all who believes upon His Son!
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