Speak, But Not Now

Day 13: Exodus 11–15; Psalms 31–36; Mark 7–9

When my children were young, they would sometimes ask those embarrassing questions that I knew I could not answer in a way they could understand without disturbing their innocence.  There is a time when information is appropriate and times when it is better to remain silent.

The gospel readings today have Jesus teaching and refuting opponents.  He helps those who are deaf and mute to hear and speak, but quickly tells them not to speak to anyone about His healing of their infirmities.  The Pharisees would love for Jesus to be silent.  Jesus charges that they are "people who honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me (Mk 7:6b)."  So their speaking is inauthentic, not truthful.

The Pharisees aren't the only ones who come under Jesus' criticism.  His own disciples are also slow to understand.  Jesus charges them, "Is your heart hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, and do yo have ears and not hear? (Mk 8:17b-18a)" 

Jesus heals a blind man in Bethsaida a fishing village in Galilee where some of his disciples lived (John 1:44).  It is the only miracle that did not completely heal the person the first try.  Jesus had to lay hands on the man a second time to totally restore his sight.  This almost certain points to the incomplete sight (understanding) the disciples have of Jesus.  They know He is of God.  They know He is a prophet and teacher of amazing ability.  Peter is the first to have his eyes opened, in part to who Jesus really is.  Peter confesses "You are the Messiah!"  And Jesus tells His disciples not to tell anyone!

Could it be that the partial understanding of His disciples warranted waiting before they were ready to share the whole truth?  Like a parent decides when a child is or is not ready for certain information, Jesus knows his followers are not ready to tell others about His messianic identity. 

Peter proves he is not fully understanding Jesus and His ministry when he rebukes Jesus fro predicting His crucifixion.  Jesus sharply rebukes Peter telling him, "You're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's (Mk. 8:33b)!" 

Our attachments to this world cloud our vision of God and heaven's view on matters.  Like the blind man at Bethsaida, we only see with blurred vision until we are completely healed of our dependency on the "things of man."

The demons know Jesus and He silences them.  The disciples know Jesus, but they are not ready to speak about Him either.  They bicker about who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, showing they don't really have a purified heart.  They remain childish. 

What is interesting is that a child is who they must welcome if they are to welcome the reign of Christ.  There is a humility the disciples miss.  They are not as arrogant as the religious leadership has proven to be, but they still carrying selfish egos.  They are not ready.

They fail to drive out some of the tougher demons. They are not ready.  They haven't humbled themselves before God enough to have the authority (Mk. 9:28-29).

And they run the risk of causing the downfall of "little ones," whether it be actual children or infants in the faith.  They are not yet ready to speak. There is more healing needed before they can speak with authority about Jesus the Messiah.

In Mark's Gospel, the disciples never get to the point where they are ready.  The earliest manuscripts have no resurrection accounts with His twelve.  Only the women see the empty tomb and are frightened by an angel.  They leave the tomb and say nothing to no one because they are so afraid.

If I were an early listener to the gospel of Mark and suffered the bleak ending, I would be compelled to tell what I know about Jesus...even if I am not fully healed, fully seeing, hearing or understanding.  I know enough.  My savior is alive and He lives in me.