“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
Ever notice that Jesus seems to want to keep his identity a secret? Notice the above passage, and notice very shortly after it another example, “Moved with pity, he [Jesus] stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’ The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, ‘See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest…’” Again Jesus seems to want to keep his identity secret. Scripture scholars call this the “messianic secret.” Why is Jesus keeping his identity secret?
Well, it may be helpful to understand that many Jews were expecting a messiah who would be a military leader. One who would be the fulfillment of King David’s line and reestablish it. They expected that the messiah would lead a revolt against the occupying forces from Rome. Jesus was aware of that messianic expectation. He knew that if people heard he was the messiah that they would project that image onto him. In other words, they would not see him for who he truly was, but would see what they wanted him to be.
We do that a lot of times too. We try to create God in our image and likeness instead of the other way around. We think we have the best plan for our lives and try to remind God to get in the passenger’s seat. Jesus was in fact the messiah, and the fulfillment of the promises made to King David, but not the way many expected. He is also the Lord of my life and yours, and often asks us to do things or accept things that we don’t understand.
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