Today’s Gospel (Mark 1:40-45) has always confused me. Why would Jesus tell the leper not to tell anyone he was made well? I pulled out my bible commentary to figure it out.
Jesus wanted to avoid a dramatic reputation, which often
devolves into a lurid one, of being nothing more than a wonderworker. How often
are miracles disconnected from his call to repentance. Everyone wants a miracle;
nobody wants to change. I often have friends ask me to pray for healing or the
resolution of some crisis but that’s where it begins and ends for them. God is
nothing more than a vending machine dispensing favors.
He wanted to avoid the expectation that the Messiah would be
a political and military leader. Jesus isn’t about temporary politics; he is
about an eternal relationship.
Jesus didn’t want to stir up the fury of his enemies before the
appointed time. While Jesus didn’t hesitate to call people on their behavior,
he also knew timing was crucial. Anger people too quickly and you won’t be able
to deliver the message.
The “messianic secret” is an important theme in the Gospel
of Mark. As we progress through this liturgical year it will be interesting to
see where he employs this method next.
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