The “Messianic Secret” is a theme that scholars began to discuss at the beginning of the 20th century. Though indicators are present in all four Gospels, attention was especially focused on St. Mark’s Gospel.
In the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was healing the infirm and casting out demons. “He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him” (Mark 1:34).
After this, Jesus entered a synagogue, and while there, healed someone of leprosy.
The response Jesus gave to the one who was healed, and what happened after opens the pattern more clearly.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them” (Mark 1:44-45).
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
We can begin to see one of Jesus’ motivations for telling people not to reveal his miracles. He was getting to be too much in demand. The verses around these passages indicate that he would return to the deserted places to pray before he was in demand again.
Chapter two begins with the account of Jesus healing a paralytic. Such a crowd had gathered around Jesus that the four men carrying the paralytic had to open a place in the roof to let the paralytic down in front of Jesus.
In chapter three, we learn that Jesus not only warned the ones healed not to make him known but warned unclean spirits the same way. And whenever unclean spirits saw him, they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God” (Mark 3:11-12). He warned them sternly not to make him known.
These kind of responses of Jesus to those who wished to make him known continued right up to the apostles themselves. We see this at the transfiguration.
“As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” (Mark 9:9).
We learn that Jesus wasn’t just hiding the fact that he was Messiah and Son of God, but showing that even his apostles, who had acclaimed him such, didn’t really understand. They would only come to really understand after the resurrection.
We learn in Chapter 8 Peter had already proclaimed Jesus as Messiah, but that he didn’t understand what kind of Messiah. When Jesus began to speak of the cross, Peter objected. Jesus reminded him that he was thinking as humans do rather than as God does.
As we find passages like these, it is good to consider deepening our own understanding.
Pastor Fr. Bill Hodgson is the priest at St. Edward Catholic Church in Cassville. He may be reached at 417-847-4948 or stedwardcassville@ gmail.com.
