He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.”
Mark 8:29-30 NKJV
As I’ve read through the gospels the last few weeks, I’ve been intrigued by Yeshua’s instruction to “tell no one” about Him. In today’s passage, He told His disciples to stay silent about His identity – but it wasn’t the first time. He also told both crowds (Mark 8:22-26) and demons (Mark 3:12) to stay silent about who He was – But why?
I’ve thought about this all week. Was it humility or timing that kept Him silent? Could it be that He wanted to reveal Himself – He wanted to control the message? Could it be He was testing them, asking them to hold His words and revelation in confidence? Could it be He was demonstrating trust – entrusting them with a secret?
Whatever His rationale, He was serious about it – He epitimaō – His disciples – or admonished and charged them sharply. The word usage indicates He was firm and direct, but kind. Not a “wag your finger” type of ask – but rather the type of ask that comes with a heavy weight because you are trusted with something of value.
I believe Yeshua knew it wasn’t time for Him to be fully revealed. He told both strangers and intimates to hold their peace because the time wasn’t right – the people were not ready, and revealing Himself too soon would have been destructive.
Likewise, today, there are times He tells me to speak or to do, and there are times He tells me to sit and be silent. There are things G-d speaks to me that are just for me. Then, there are things He speaks to me for others. The key is to know the difference. It’s so critical to know how to hear and obey the voice of the Lord – and to wrestle with the Word like I am today.
Perhaps His instruction to “tell no one” was to see who He could trust as His secret keepers. I’ll never know this side of heaven if that’s the case, but irregardless, I want to be known as secret keeper of His.
Father – thank You for Your Word. Thank You for how You love me. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Matthew 16, Mark 8, Luke 9:18-27
October 20, 2022