“43 After sternly warning the man healed of leprosy Jesus sent him away at once, 44 saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded as a testimony to them.’ 45 But the man who was healed went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly but stayed out in the country, and people came to Jesus from every quarter” Mark 1:43-45.
This is Mark’s first of many of Jesus’ commands to demons and to those healed to keep silent, because Jesus does not want to be known as a miracle worker. False prophets work miracles to amaze people, but Jesus does not wish to amaze people. Jesus also has little - or no - trust in faith based on spectacles, because Jesus knows the clamor of the moment never lasts. But more than anything else Jesus commands silence because He wants more time to destroy the powers that be, the evil powers of Satan in the hearts and minds of men and women, especially those weakened by Satan. And sadly, anytime Jesus receives unwanted publicity, this is a result of our disobedience. We fail to remain silent as He commands.
This story or repeated commands of Jesus to remain silent reminds me of God’s grace that comes to us only in our silence at prayer. To be in silence before God in prayer gives God time to seek to us and to be present to us in ways we cannot imagine when we flood our prayer with petitions and requests and words. I pray that we can all develop a strong desire to sit in silence before God. And listen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10.
“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” Lamentations 3:26.
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” Exodus 14:14.
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength”Isaiah 30:15.
“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself” Matthew 14:13.
“And Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves” Mark 6:31-32.
“And Martha had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching” Luke 10:39.
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