Quiet Time: Don't Tell

Don't Tell

Read: Mark 7:31-37

And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.
- Mark 7:36

I can’t remember either of our kids tattling, although I’m sure they did. It’s just that we had simple guideline when they were growing up: "What you say may incriminate you" (talebearers tend to overlook their part in the process). So, our children quickly learned to shut up and move on. What is interesting in this passage of scripture though, is that Jesus is giving orders to a man healed of deafness, as well as, his buddies who just saw him get healed, not to tell a “good thing”.


Many have speculated that Jesus was simply trying to keep the crowds down. He didn’t want these guys spreading the news about the healing because it would simply muck up the ministry opportunities. Whatever the reason, the fact is, Jesus wanted those who saw the healing to wait before spreading the good news. Well, they didn’t, and the more they talked the crazier things got. But, you know, who could blame them for talking? Well, for one, Jesus could.

Interestingly, the first word the deaf man heard was, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be Opened”. The next words he heard from Jesus were, “Be quiet!” Which goes to show you, that just because we hear and understand a command, doesn’t guarantee that we’ll follow it.

Then there were the friends of the deaf man. After pushing their way through the crowd and pretty much begging Jesus to heal their buddy, a very commendable thing in deed, they actually see Jesus accomplish what they asked Him to do, and it was “Katie bar the door” let’s have a party! I mean, really, what would you do? I for one would be hooting and hollering like a wild man! So, here you are all excited and that's when you hear Jesus, shushing you. He says, “Don’t tell anyone.” Yeh, right! Emotion and exuberance can cause us to turn a deaf ear to Christ’s commands if we’re not careful to quiet ourselves before acting.

The basic take away for me is, "Do what Jesus says to do even when what you want to do appears to be a good thing."Just wait; his timing is best.