The Gospel of Mark is sometimes called “the gospel of secrecy” because almost every time that Jesus performs a miraculous healing, he specifically instructs the person who has just been healed to keep the matter quiet. In the opening chapter, for example, Jesus cleanses a leper, and immediately tells him, “See that you say nothing to anyone.” The same thing occurs when he heals a deaf man a few chapters later, and again when he heals the blind man at Bethsaida. Even when Peter steps forward and boldly declares, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” Jesus sternly orders the disciples not to tell anyone about this.
But why keep it a secret? What happened to proclaiming the good news? In fact, why not allow the person who has experienced this miracle firsthand to help spread the good news? After all, someone who once was blind and now sees could make a very compelling witness.
No one knows for sure why Jesus insists on being so secretive when comes to miracles. However, I would like to venture an educated guess. Perhaps Jesus’ concern was that if one’s belief is based on a demonstrable feat, such as a miracle, then there is little room left for faith.
In other words, if we had verifiable proof that God exists and that Jesus is Lord, then belief would be reduced to a logical necessity. We wouldn’t have any choice in the matter, for we could no more deny it than we could deny that 2 + 2 = 4, or that the earth is round. Simply put, in order for faith to be possible, there must also be the possibility of doubt.
Maybe that is why Jesus is so cautious about the word getting out. He doesn’t want people to believe in him simply because he made a blind man see, or changed water into wine, or fed thousands with a few loaves and some spare pieces of fish. He doesn’t want people to deduce that he is the Messiah because they followed a logical chain of unassailable evidence. He wants people to take a leap of faith.
Actually, when you think about it, it’s not miracles that give us faith … it’s faith that gives us miracles!
But why keep it a secret? What happened to proclaiming the good news? In fact, why not allow the person who has experienced this miracle firsthand to help spread the good news? After all, someone who once was blind and now sees could make a very compelling witness.
No one knows for sure why Jesus insists on being so secretive when comes to miracles. However, I would like to venture an educated guess. Perhaps Jesus’ concern was that if one’s belief is based on a demonstrable feat, such as a miracle, then there is little room left for faith.
In other words, if we had verifiable proof that God exists and that Jesus is Lord, then belief would be reduced to a logical necessity. We wouldn’t have any choice in the matter, for we could no more deny it than we could deny that 2 + 2 = 4, or that the earth is round. Simply put, in order for faith to be possible, there must also be the possibility of doubt.
Maybe that is why Jesus is so cautious about the word getting out. He doesn’t want people to believe in him simply because he made a blind man see, or changed water into wine, or fed thousands with a few loaves and some spare pieces of fish. He doesn’t want people to deduce that he is the Messiah because they followed a logical chain of unassailable evidence. He wants people to take a leap of faith.
Actually, when you think about it, it’s not miracles that give us faith … it’s faith that gives us miracles!
posted by Dr. Robert Crilley at
4:57 PM
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