One of the ways we want to utilize this blog is to tackle some of the questions people have been asking that have arisen from our study of Mark's Gospel.  We (the pastoral staff) certainly don't claim to have all the answers, but we do want to take your questions seriously and offer some reflections (and we invite you to offer your reflections as well).

One of the questions that many of you have asked is this: Why does Jesus keep commanding others (both demons and humans) to be silent about who he is and what he's done for them? 

This is an excellent question, and one of the unique features of Mark's Gospel.   Bible scholars refer to this puzzle as “the Messianic Secret.”  It is true that, at least for the first half of Mark's Gospel (up to chapter 8), Jesus does insist upon keeping his idenity a secret.

So why this command to silence?  Mark doesn’t give us a direct answer.  But we can come up with some likely reasons.  Regarding the unclean spirits, one reason that Jesus silences them when they call out his identity is because he doesn’t want his holy name to be spoken by unclean lips.  A theologian and preacher from the 4th century named Athanasius put it so well:  “He [Jesus] put a bridle in the mouths of demons that cried after him from the tombs.  For although what they said was true…he did not wish that the truth should proceed from an unclean mouth, and especially from such as those who under pretense of truth might mingle with it their own malicious devices.”  (To the Bishops of Egypt).  

Even more, by speaking Jesus’ name the demons are really challenging his authority and trying to overpower him.  In the ancient world, to speak the name of another god or spirit was a way of gaining control over them.  Jesus’ power is greater than the forces of darkness, and so their efforts to overpower him are futile.  

But what about humans whom Jesus heals?  Why does Jesus command them to be silent as well (like the man healed of leprosy in 1:40-45)?  One reason is practical and strategic.  If the word got out too soon that Jesus is the Messiah, especially given the wide-spread false expectations of the Messiah (namely a militant leader who would overthrow Rome), then the political and religious authorities would try to get rid of him immediately.  Remember what happened to John the Baptist?  Even before Jesus begins his public ministry, John is thrown in prison because he poses a threat to the authorities (and soon enough John would be executed).   This may be why Jesus’ preferred way of identifying himself in Mark’s Gospel is the title “Son of Man,” which is an OT title that has Messianic undertones (see Daniel 7:13-14) but doesn’t carry the political/militaristic connotations of the actual title “Messiah.”  Even though Jesus knew the path he would walk would eventually lead to execution, it was not yet time.  He had important work to do first, including mentoring his disciples.

The most important reason Jesus wants to keep his identity a secret (at least for the first half of the Gospel) is in connection with the profile of “the Suffering Servant” in Isaiah (see chapters 42-53) to which Jesus consciously patterns his ministry.  The Suffering Servant represented Israel, but also was a foreshadowing of the Messiah.  Isaiah says that one clear sign of the true Messiah is that he will go about his work with a sense of hiddenness, with humility and restraint.  Jesus knew that his true power would be displayed not in these exciting miracles that impressed the crowds but in his suffering on the cross.  And he wasn’t interested in drawing a crowd to simply put on a good show.  Astonishment is not the same thing as faith.  

While it is true that within the narrative structure of Mark’s Gospel Jesus wants to keep his identity a secret, Mark is determined from the very beginning to let those of us who are readers of the story in on the secret.  That’s why he begins his Gospel with this opening statement: “The good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”  So all these stories about Jesus telling demons and others who rightly identify him to “be silent” is really for the benefit of us readers—we see Jesus’ true identity!  Jesus is the One who has the authority not only to cast out evil spirits and heal the sick but also to forgive sins.   He has come to give himself as a ransom for many.  He is the One who sets prisoners free, makes the wounded whole, and provides the way for us to be fully human.  As the centurion who stands at the foot of the cross will confess by the end of Mark’s Gospel, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”