The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter

[contemplative]

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 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. (Mark 1:45-46)

Whenever I read this passage I wonder why Jesus ordered the leper to tell no one of the healing. I am then always flabbergasted when the leper turns around and does just the opposite of what Jesus asked him to do. Any thoughts?

 

[st_felicity]

contemplative:

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 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. (Mark 1:45-46)

Whenever I read this passage I wonder why Jesus ordered the leper to tell no one of the healing. I am then always flabbergasted when the leper turns around and does just the opposite of what Jesus asked him to do. Any thoughts?

My guess:
It’s Jesus fulfilling the messianic prophecy that the Messiah would be humble and not broadcast that he was the Messiah.

The Leper bragging? Wouldn’t you be just DYING to tell someone?

 

[Fidelis]

contemplative:

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” 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. (Mark 1:45-46)

Whenever I read this passage I wonder why Jesus ordered the leper to tell no one of the healing. I am then always flabbergasted when the leper turns around and does just the opposite of what Jesus asked him to do. Any thoughts?

Two thoughts:

Jesus had a real concern that he would be primarily thought of a miracle worker and that a premature identification of him as the Messiah would impede his mission (John 6:14-15).

I think the point of the Gospel writer in informing us that the leper spreading the news even when ordered not to is to underline the fact that those whose lives are touched by the Lord are filled with such a joy that it can’t be held in --you just have to share it with some one or you’ll burst! See Jeremiah 20:9 and Luke 19:47-30.

 

[TOP]

To me , the lepers deeds would be proper testimony, his words not able to justify Christ works, knowing this, Christ still healed him. Hopeful. Tim

 

[contemplative]

Fidelis:

Two thoughts:

Jesus had a real concern that he would be primarily thought of a miracle worker and that a premature identification of him as the Messiah would impede his mission (John 6:14-15).

I think the point of the Gospel writer in informing us that the leper spreading the news even when ordered not to is to underline the fact that those whose lives are touched by the Lord are filled with such a joy that it can’t be held in --you just have to share it with some one or you’ll burst! See Jeremiah 20:9 and Luke 19:47-30.

This is what I heard from a very good priest this evening. Thank you

I too tend to get hung up on the Jesus’ miraculous healings when I read them and forget his real mission.

 

[TEME525]

First, I think many if not all would agree that Fedilis’ answer was the best so far especially in regards to the leper’s response. I would like to focus on Jesus’ command which Fidelis also approached.

Some scripture scholars, and I am taking their view point, hold that the temptations Jesus faced in the desert were temptations He faced through out His ministry especially the temptation to act or exercise His power in such a way that it really would demonstrate once and for all His power and authority. Perhaps this temptation was greatest when His ministry was failing (examples being His rejection by His own town and more so at the conclusion of John 6 when many of His followers left Him after He declared that His flesh was real food and His blood real drink = the Eucharist).

But exercising His power and Authority in this manner would have destroyed His true mission which was to proclaim to Israel and the world, that the Kingdom of God was present amoung them here and now, and in a special way in His own person. The focus or reaction of most people would have been to see Jesus as the great mircle worker and messiah but but not the messiahship that was according to the Will of God - He was a messiah that would have to die in utter weakness and humiliation to acheive His greatness (Phil 2).

This is why He told the leper in this case, as He did with so many other mircles(when He cast out demons He would command their silence for example) not to tell anyone.

 

[contemplative]

TEME525:

First, I think many if not all would agree that Fedilis’ answer was the best so far especially in regards to the leper’s response. I would like to focus on Jesus’ command which Fidelis also approached.

Some scripture scholars, and I am taking their view point, hold that the temptations Jesus faced in the desert were temptations He faced through out His ministry especially the temptation to act or exercise His power in such a way that it really would demonstrate once and for all His power and authority. Perhaps this temptation was greatest when His ministry was failing (examples being His rejection by His own town and more so at the conclusion of John 6 when many of His followers left Him after He declared that His flesh was real food and His blood real drink = the Eucharist).

But exercising His power and Authority in this manner would have destroyed His true mission which was to proclaim to Israel and the world, that the Kingdom of God was present amoung them here and now, and in a special way in His own person. The focus or reaction of most people would have been to see Jesus as the great mircle worker and messiah but but not the messiahship that was according to the Will of God - He was a messiah that would have to die in utter weakness and humiliation to acheive His greatness (Phil 2).

This is why He told the leper in this case, as He did with so many other mircles(when He cast out demons He would command their silence for example) not to tell anyone.

The good priest told me this in too but somehow I had lost it. Thank you for taking the time to respond. I needed to see it written down to absorb it more completely. I will dwell on this.

 

[contemplative]

TEME525:

Perhaps this temptation was greatest when His ministry was failing (examples being His rejection by His own town and more so at the conclusion of John 6 when many of His followers left Him after He declared that His flesh was real food and His blood real drink = the Eucharist).

But exercising His power and Authority in this manner would have destroyed His true mission which was to proclaim to Israel and the world, that the Kingdom of God was present amoung them here and now, and in a special way in His own person. The focus or reaction of most people would have been to see Jesus as the great mircle worker and messiah but but not the messiahship that was according to the Will of God - He was a messiah that would have to die in utter weakness and humiliation to acheive His greatness (Phil 2).

This is why He told the leper in this case, as He did with so many other mircles(when He cast out demons He would command their silence for example) not to tell anyone.

Another thought shared with me was how Judas might have betrayed Jesus in an effort to ‘pump up’ Jesus’ miraculous way. Maybe Judas hoped that Jesus would finally ‘show them all’ who was most powerful. And when Jesus failed Judas’ expections…well you know the rest.
This is only speculation.

 

[dancus]

contemplative:

Another thought shared with me was how Judas might have betrayed Jesus in an effort to ‘pump up’ Jesus’ miraculous way. Maybe Judas hoped that Jesus would finally ‘show them all’ who was most powerful. And when Jesus failed Judas’ expections…well you know the rest.
This is only speculation.

One shared by me. Judas was a Zealot, the terrorists of their day, they wanted Rome out of their land. Jesus knew this yet he chose Judas in any case. Also there was another, who is identified in the Bible as Simon the Zealot. One of these was necessary to fulfill the Prophesy. By no means am I excusing what Judas did, just throwing my thoughts out there.

Then consider the parable of Jesus asked about paying taxes to Rome, It states in the Bible He saw through the question. Again it likely the Prophesy might not have been fulfilled. Had Jesus answered No, instead of the answer he gave. A simple no would have gained the full support of the Saducees, the Nationalists of that time. Zealots to a man were loyal to them. Just some idle thoughts of mine before I log off. Dan