Keep It Quiet

Jesus instructed his disciples to have a boat ready so the crowd would not crush him. He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him. And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was. [Mark 3.9-12]

Ever wonder why Jesus didn't want those evil spirits to acknowledge Who He was? Why did He want them to keep it quiet?

The point of Jesus' ministry was to demonstrate to His followers how to live and reconcile the world to God. If what Jesus did as ministry was seen as the "Son of God" instead of the "Son of Man," then it would be far too easy for us as followers to simply shrug off trying to "do the same works" because, after all,  He was God and we are only man.

Jesus wanted and needed the world to see Him as "man." Of course He had to be "God" for the Cross to be of benefit to man, but if that were His only goal, He would not have had to stay on earth three years in ministry. That three years of ministry was as a man, filled with the Holy Spirit acting on behalf of the Kingdom of God so we could see how it is done.

It would be different if we had no record of John 14 and John 17. It would be different if we had no record of Matthew 28.18-20

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]

Jesus did what He did because all authority had been given to Him to do so. It is in that very same authority that Jesus said, "Therefore, go..."

You see, this is no misinterpretation of the context of Matthew 28.18-20 because every good work Jesus did was for one purpose - to make disciples (get folks saved) who would then make other disciples (get other folks saved). Everything Jesus did, including miracles, was to that one and same end. It is the same ministry of reconciliation Paul talked about.

Again though, if we "write off" Jesus' works as, "Well, He was God..." then we have missed the point entirely. That is why Jesus was so adamant about trying to stay low-key.

Father, help me to do the works of Jesus for the same reason as Jesus and in the same attitude of Jesus!