of Jesus and God? In the gospels we often read that Jesus withdrew from crowds and told people he healed to be silent about him (as well as evil spirits). Not to mention why doesn’t God simply show himself to the world and say here i am! and I love you like a dear son/daughter
God chose to become one of us, a real man.
Jesus was a real man who lived a real society and culture in first century Israel. He had to deal with real people and real threats against his life. We have to understand the politics and culture in which Jesus lived and the nature of the work he was sent to do in light of his real humanity and the obstacles he faced within his time and place.
Jeses withdrew from the crowds and told people to be silent becuse the Jews were trying to kill him and his work was not yet done. The Jews were actively looking for him to put him to death and he still had things to do.
Jesus even strictly orders his own disciples to keep quiet.
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. (Matthew 16:18:20)*
This is a key moment in the establishment of God’s new kingdom, one with which every Catholic is familiar. This is the moment when Jesus transfers the authority of the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom. This is the moment where God begins to remove the authority of the pharisees, scribes and chief priests who sit on the Chair of Moses and give that same authority to those who will sit instead on the Chair of Peter.
In removing the chief priests from their positions of authority and appointing Peter as his prime minister, Jesus is asserting himself as a king. Only kings appoint prime ministers. Only kings have authority to establish kingdoms.
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. (John 6:15)
Jesus strictly orders his disciples to tell no one that he is the Messiah/King/Christ because he knew that the Jews would try to kill him all the more.
After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. (John 7:1)
The Jews wanted to kill Jesus because their own authority was threatened, but Jesus knew that his work was not yet finished. I find the following passage fascinating.
Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." (John 12:20-23)
Some Greeks want to speak with Jesus. Non-Jews heard his message and wish to come to him and learn from him. Jesus’ response is not “Sure, let them in” or “Tell them to go away, I’m busy.” Jesus answer is “My hour has come”. Jesus’ response is that his work on earth is almost finished. He has preached to the Jews and the fact that even the Gentiles are beginning to accept him is a signal that his days of preaching are ending and now he must complete his work through his death. The Greeks represent the rest of the world - those who are beginning to accept his message. At this point, Jesus knows that his work here is almost done.
Jesus knew that his work was not yet complete and what the signs would be that his work was nearing completion. He protected himself until he recieved those signs and sometimes that required withdrawal, hiding, strictly ordering people not to publicize his name. He would not let the Jews kill him prematurely, before he had acomplished all his Father had sent him to do.
-Tim-
