Why does Jesus say...

[Deepcallstodeep]

Something that has befuddled me... forgive me if it's a dumb and obvious question (there are a lot of smart Christians here who love the Word and I have a lot to learn!), but:

Why does Jesus specifically say to people sometimes NOT to tell people He is the Christ or what He has done (to the disciples, Matthew 16:20, Luke 9:21; to the family of Jairus after He raises J's daughter, Mark 5:43; to a leper He healed, Matthew 8:4)... and at other times tells people to tell everyone what He has done (madman of the Gerasenes, Mark 5:19)... and He tells the Samaritan woman at the well flat-out that He is the Messiah, John 4:26?

:scratch

Does it have something to do with a testimony to the Jews (who should know Him/recognize Him from the prophets' writings) vs. to the Gentiles (who would not have the benefit of this knowledge)?

[Hootmon]

Jesus has a 'schedule' of sorts to keep. He was doing a sprt of 'spin control' in order to not provoke the authorities too soon while at the same time still 'getting the word out' to the people.

[Leuretha]

Do you know that sometimes the crowds were pressing in on Him and He and His disciples bearly had any room to move?

Can't say I blame for wanting a little space...

[Deepcallstodeep]

Hi Leuretha, thanks for your feedback. Maybe Jesus was just tired of crowds, as you say. But I think there’s more to it than that. I did some research! (Scary I know) It was helpful.

At the point of Matthew 16:20, I think Jesus was only with the disciples on the coast of Caesarea Philippi at this time, not a big crowd.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Matthew 16:20 says
Here is the charge which Christ gave his disciples, to keep this private for the present (v. 20); They must tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. What they had professed to him, they must not yet publish to the world, for several reasons; 1. Because this was the time of preparation for his kingdom: the great thing now preached, was, that the kingdom of heaven was at hand; and therefore those things were now to be insisted on, which were proper to make way for Christ; as the doctrine of repentance; not this great truth, in and with which the kingdom of heaven was to be actually set up. Every thing is beautiful in its season, and it is good advice, Prepare thy work, and afterwards build, Prov. 24:27. 2. Christ would have his Messiahship proved by his works, and would rather they should testify of him than that his disciples should, because their testimony was but as his own, which he insisted not on. See Jn. 5:31, 34. He was so secure of the demonstration of his miracles, that he waived other witnesses, Jn. 10:25, 38. 3. If they had known that he was Jesus the Christ, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, 1 Co. 2:8. 4. Christ would not have the apostles preach this, till they had the most convincing evidence ready to allege in confirmation of it. Great truths may suffer damage by being asserted before they can be sufficiently proved. Now the great proof of Jesus being the Christ was his resurrection: by that he was declared to be the Son of God, with power; and therefore the divine wisdom would not have this truth preached, till that could be alleged for proof of it. 5. It was requisite that the preachers of so great a truth should be furnished with greater measures of the Spirit than the apostles as yet had; therefore the open asserting of it was adjourned till the Spirit should be poured out upon them. But when Christ was glorified and the Spirit poured out, we find Peter proclaiming upon the house-tops what was here spoken in a corner (Acts 2:36), That God hath made this same Jesus both Lord and Christ; for, as there is a time to keep silence, so there is a time to speak.”

Then in Luke 9:21, again Jesus was alone praying, when His disciples came upon Him and he asked them the same question (who do men say I am?). No crowds.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Luke 9:21 says:
Now that his disciples were well established in the belief of his being the Christ, and able to bear it, he speaks of them expressly, and with great assurance. It comes in as a reason why they must not yet preach that he was the Christ, because the wonders that would attend his death and resurrection would be the most convincing proof of his being the Christ of God. It was by his exaltation to the right hand of the Father that he was fully declared to be the Christ, and by the sending of the Spirit thereupon (Acts 2:33); and therefore wait till that is done.”

And thanks Hootmon for the feedback because it does seem like there was a “schedule”… not only to not provoke the authorities too soon, but to let the true revelation of His identity have time to develop and sink in for His disciples. Christ also tells Peter that flesh and blood (man) did not reveal His true identity to Peter, but God Himself, Matthew 16:17.

I still think there might be something to the theory, though, that Christ gave/allowed a more complete revelation of Himself to half-Jews (the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4) and Gentiles on purpose. I’m still researching that part!!! If anyone has ideas, let me know.

[Jany]

As Hoot suggested, He did have a schedule...

If you put it all together ( write it down, you'll see) , you'll find it all co-ordinates in time ... <><