Sunday, September 08, 2024
Sunday Reflection: "Tell No One"
In Mark 7, we get this story about Jesus:
They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
It's a pretty simple story, except the parts that aren't. Of course people are amazed that he could heal the man who was deaf. And of course Jesus couldn't help but heal the man who needed help.
But why would Jesus tell those present not to tell anyone about what happened? After all, it didn't work at all-- they proclaimed it even more zealously! So, this seems to be Jesus failing at something, since he did not succeed in silencing those present.
One question (beyond Jesus not succeeding) is why Jesus did not want them to talk about the miracle they witnessed. Was he actually playing the psychology of it; that is, did he know that if he told them not to talk they would do the opposite? Or was he worried about being overwhelmed, and was sincere in his request?
That failure to stop people from talking is so... human. And isn't that part of who Jesus was?
