Are We Commanded to Keep Silent About Jesus?

In the 9th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, we read about the time when Jesus healed two blind men. As soon as they regained their sight, Jesus said to the men, “See that no one knows about this.”

However, the very next verse says, “But they went out and spread word of [Jesus] through all that land.”

Now, at the very end of this same gospel, Jesus said to the 12 apostles, and by extension to all believers throughout history: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Isn’t this interesting? The two blind men were ordered not to tell anyone about Jesus, but they ignored that command and instead told everyone. On the other hand, we have been ordered to tell people about Jesus, but most of us ignore that command and tell nobody.

First, let’s consider why Jesus told the blind men to keep quiet. On the face of it, it seems odd. After all, Jesus’ message is called the “Good News,” and a major theme throughout Scripture is the fact that believers are called to share this news with others. So, why did Jesus order the blind men not to talk about how they were healed?
 
We find a clue in Mark’s gospel, chapter 1, when Jesus healed a leper and then ordered the man not to tell anyone about it. Just like the blind men, the leper ignored Jesus’ command and, as we read in verse 45: “The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.”

In this case, when word of Jesus’ miraculous healing spread all over the region, it caused such an uproar, Jesus no longer could even enter town and book a room at the local Holiday Inn. He was forced to spend the night sleeping out in the wilderness.

In John’s gospel, chapter 6, Jesus fed thousands of people with a couple of picnic baskets. When the crowd saw this miraculous sign, they got quite excited. Verse 15 says: “Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”

Jesus had to walk a fine line. During His ministry He performed a lot of miracles to demonstrate His divine origins. Another reason He did miracles, of course, was His compassion for people who were suffering. However, if the crowds got so fired up as a result of His miracles, it could throw off Jesus’ pre-ordained timetable. You see, there was one particular Passover in all of history when the ancient prophecies would be fulfilled and God’s plan of redemption would take place. If the crowd’s exuberance accelerated the timing of when the religious authorities in Jerusalem confronted Jesus, it would mess up the divine plan.

So, Jesus had to navigate carefully during His ministry, to make sure events did not spiral out of control. This is why he frequently ordered people not to spread the word about His miracles.

But what about us, nowadays? Are we under orders to keep silent about Jesus? (Oh, I bet you we’re hoping that I’d forgotten about this.) For most of us, it sure seems like we’ve taken a vow of silence. But since we live in the Era of Grace — the period of time after the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension — we are commanded to tell the world about the Good News of Jesus.

It’s kind of odd, isn’t it? Jesus gave orders to the blind men and to us. In both cases His orders were ignored. The blind men were so thrilled they couldn’t keep quiet. And we’re so timid or embarrassed to tell anyone about our faith in Jesus that we don’t say a peep.

Of these two groups of people, the blind men and us, I wonder which ones Jesus is more disappointed in? I bet it’s not the blind men.