Q: #94. Why did Jesus warn some people not to tell others of His miracles?
A: Jesus said this a number of times (Mt 8:4)(Mt 9:30)(Mt 12:16)(Mt 17:9)
(Mk 1:13,44)(Mk 5:43)(Mk 7:36)(Mk 8:26)(Lk 8:56), and it was early in His
ministry. Three reasons are possible:
1. Jesus knew the people were expecting the Messiah to be a man who would come
in power to overthrow the ruling bodies and become king. If word got out about
the miracles He was doing, the people might try to push Him into this role.
(I believe this is why Judas betrayed Jesus.)
2. If word got out about Him, they might try to kill Jesus before His
appointed time.
3. If word got around about His healing, people might focus on that instead of
His message. He wanted time to explain why He came, and to reveal God to us.
Both #1 and #2 are possible, but it appears to me that Jesus knew how His
life would unfold, and when His appointed time to die would come (Jn 13:1)
(Jn 7:6-8)(Jn 12:23,27)(Mk 14:35-41)(Mt 26:18)(Jn 16:32)(Jn 17:1)(Mt 26:45)
(Jn 2:4), so that would rule out His concern about those things. We can also
see He escaped danger in the Temple because His "hour was not yet come"
(Jn 7:30)(Jn 8:20). Therefore, I personally see #3 as the most likely reason.
