Q. Why did Jesus perform miracles and then tell people not to tell anyone?
A. This liturgical year we have been hearing from the Gospel of Mark and in many Gospel readings from Mark Jesus performs a miracle and then asks the person healed not to tell anyone.
While there are many interpretations as to why Jesus would do this, a common theory amongst both Catholics and Protestants is that the Jewish understanding of the Messiah at the time of Jesus was of a political Messiah who would drive the Romans from Palestine and bring about a new kingdom of David. Since this idea was contrary to the reality of Christ as Messiah, one who would suffer and die to free all peoples from the domain of sin, Jesus attempted to distance Himself from the title, asking people not to spread word of Him performing Messianic acts (such as bringing sight to the blind, enabling the lame to walk, etc.)
Another common interpretation is that Jesus did not want miracles to get in the way of His proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Often times in the Gospel we are told that Jesus was seen by some as a “novelty,” someone who could perform “magic tricks.”
To try to minimize this, Jesus asked those around Him not to spread word of His miracles so that people would focus more on His forgiveness of sins and proclamation of the love of the Father. The miracles were secondary to His mission, used to give authority to His words (Mark 2:1-12), so He did not want people focusing on them.
There is no one explanation as to why Jesus asked people not to tell others about His miracles, so which ever theory someone finds most convincing they are free to believe, so long as it does not contradict what we know from Scripture and Tradition.
This question was answered by Father Caleb La Rue, vice chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
