Q Why did Jesus strictly admonish those he cured not to tell anyone what he had done. It seems odd given his mission, especially when done in front of many others and it was obvious that Jesus was the cause. A.O., Cary

A I believe you must be referring to the accounts in the Gospel of Mark when Jesus, on a number of occasions, asks those he has healed — including a leper and a deaf man — and raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead, not to tell others.  This is what scholars call the messianic secret.

Why would Jesus not want people to know of these miracles? Because as a Messiah, Jesus was more than a worker of wonders; he needed to suffer his passion and death.

Mark’s Gospel seeks to have us understand that discipleship entails rejection and hardship but God stands with us through it all. What Jesus did was ask of his hearers the same thing he asks of us … to have faith in the truth of what he preached. Faith must be the requisite for healing and miracles. Jesus knew that too much emphasis on the acts of healing or miracles would hinder the people in hearing his message and doing God’s will. Jesus wants our faith, not our appreciation for his works. You can’t have Easter Sunday without Good Friday.

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