Why didn't Jesus want people telling everyone about his "miracles"?

Question

For example:
When he turned the water into wine, he told his mother not to tell anyone, and actually got pissed at her for asking him to do it.

When he healed the leper, he told him not to tell anyone.

Was he afraid of being discovered as a witch and put to death?

Answer 1

Most of what he did sounds like magic to me. I've usually thought that is any of the Bible was remotely true, Jesus was probably a witch.

Answer 2

Scholars call this "The Messianic Secret" There's an excellent treatment by Professor Jerry Camery-Hoggatt of Fuller Theological Seminary called "Irony in Mark's Gospel" that deals with Mark's use of ironic reversal to make the story more compelling.

Throughout Jesus tells everyone to keep secret that he is the Messiah and they don't obey him. But at the Resurrection he tells them to "tell everyone" and they won't do it because they are afraid.

The verses that follow 16:8 do not appear in early manuscripts and were added by someone other than Mark, ruining his use of ironic reversal. But you still get the message. Jesus wasn't a con man seeking publicity like a Benny Hinn. He had a mission to perform and the more his true identity was noised about, the more his mission was cut short. But interestingly, when strangers thought he was the Messiah because he performed miracles, they wouldn't obey him and keep quiet, and his closest disciples still questioned his identity. And when Jesus arose from the dead and His sonship to God was proven in their eyesight, his disciples wouldn't obey him at first, even though His identity was clear.

Now of course all the while the tale is being told, the audience is in on the secret and thinking, "Stupid disciples! Why can't they see what everyone else sees?" It gets the audience into it, just like the audience at every slasher movie knows as soon as the gorgeous teenage girl has sex with her boyfriend, the slasher is going to kill her. We all know it's coming, and we say "Stupid girl, don't you know that everyone who has sex in these movies dies?" But we still watch.

Answer 3

Jesus was a shrewd dude. He was well versed in reverse psychology. He knew if he asked people NOT to tell others about his alleged "miracles", they would immediately run around and tell everyone, thus inflating his image...

The water into wine gig is most interesting... This took place at teh wedding in Cana. What is most interesting is that the Bible fails to mention WHO's wedding this was. However, it is a well known fact that in those days, it was the groom's responsibility to feed and ply the guests with drink. And, Jesus is the one turning water into wine to make sure the guests have plenty to drink... Sounds like the groom was Jesus.

Answer 4

the comparable way that dying got here as a effect of Adam. it is not considerable in case you suspect Adam became actual of not -- we are all undertaking to mortality and dying. the particular passage is from Paul, who states that "For as in Adam all die, in spite of this in Christ shall all be made alive." a million Corinthians 15:22 that's an argument of offering the line to conquer dying. It has not something to do with individual overall performance, sins, or the rest. And the understanding won't take place until one is going via a resurrection...

Answer 5

Because they were asking Him to do things before the right time. Jesus knew exactly what had to be done before He went to the cross and miracles would bring thousands to Him for help and speed up the accusations of the High Priest. Jesus had many prophesies to fulfill and He fulfilled everyone of them while He was on the earth.

Answer 6

He wanted to be believed for what he said...for the truth he was conveying....not for the "parlor tricks" he did.

It was no big deal to do those "miracles", but Jesus did not want that to be the reason for people's belief.

He said himself...others will come that will do greater things...and...anyone who has the faith of a musturdseed tell a mountain to move and it will move.

He did not want other "miracle workers" to be believed for doing their tricks either.

As taught in India, siddhis (powers, miracles one can do) does not demonstrate unity with God or spiritual understanding.

Jesus did not want to be remembered for the miracles...but the message.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 7

The Jewish Religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus when they found out about his miracles. John 17:19-23.

They became determined to kill Lazarus and Jesus when he raised Lazarus from the dead. John12:10.

Instead of believing the miracles were from God, they accused him of getting his power from Beelzebub. Matthew 12:24.

So, since his ministry was going to be for 3 1/2 years, it was too early for the Pharisees to get the desire to kill him.

Answer 8

I will Tell you Something:
No man coud Take Jesus's Life (kill HIM) utill Jesus Dropped HIS Guard.
Now you have a Piece of the Puzzle to help you figure out Why Jesus did some Things the Way HE Did.

Jesus's Guard: Angels, Powerful Angels
Ditto.............

Answer 9

The reason He said not to tell anyone is that He had a specific job to do....to die for us at a certain time. People did tell when they were asked not to and Jesus had to leave that area or would have been killed too early. When He raised Lazarus from the dead the Jewish leaders were already plotting to kill Him.

Answer 10

Miracles only serve to continue to keep people focussed in the material plane. Most really holy people try to undermine or hide miraculous phenomena for this reason. They are only concerned with eliminating the ignorance of people by making them more and more spiritual.