Mark 8:27-38 "A Warning to Would Be Preachers"

Mark 8:30   “Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”

Jesus and his disciples had a dramatic moment on their way to Caesarea Philippi as recorded in Mark 8. When Jesus asked them, “Who do you say that I am,” Peter was bold enough to reply, “You are the Messiah.” 

For Peter and the disciples all the hopes of Israel had come true in Jesus. The nation longed for liberation from the Roman occupation. The religious reformers in Israel longed for a spiritual renewal that would lead to a cleansing of the Temple leadership. The Messiah, the Christ, God’s Anointed was the one who would bring these longings to reality. How surprised the disciples must have been when Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him (verse 30).

The question arises, why did Jesus warn Peter and the others not to mention this revelation? Scholars have debated this issue for more than a century. Why would Jesus want to make a secret of his identity as the Christ?

Jesus explained to the disciples that the Messiah would suffer and die on a cross. He called them to take up a cross as well and to follow him. When Peter initially heard this definition of Messiah he challenged Jesus. To that challenge from Peter Jesus replied with the shocking words, “Get behind me, Satan!” (verse 33)

The disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but they had a faulty understanding of what being the Messiah meant. “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” (Alexander Pope, 1709) With knowledge that Jesus was the Messiah the disciples had the potential to publish this news and to make Jesus an even greater celebrity than he had already become. What’s more, their skewed understanding could have spread the wrong message about Jesus throughout the land. Their “little learning” was dangerous, indeed, to the cause of Christ.

This question of the Messianic secret brought to my mind the oath that my sons and daughter-in-law have taken as physicians. They have promised that in treating patients they will always make it their aim to do no harm. Perhaps, it would be good for preachers and teachers and all followers of Jesus to make this same commitment: do no harm. If we talk glibly about the spiritual life we do more harm than good. If we leave the cross and self-sacrifice out of the Gospel we may actually be doing the work of Satan more than the work of God.

Alexander Pope warned that it is better not to drink from the fountain of knowledge unless we are willing to drink deeply. James warned, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) The best way to guard against the dangers of inadequate knowledge is to study the Scriptures and to make every effort to support our teaching with the Bible’s guidance. When we teach general ideas such as “be loving,” or “live and let live,” without reference to the cross, to sacrifice, to holiness, to the hope of resurrection or without building our message on the Scripture we may find ourselves suffering the rebuke of Jesus. It would be better to keep our “little knowledge” secret than to spread misinformation, even false teaching. If one hears the call to teach and feels compelled to give witness to the truth, then it is important for that one to stay close to the Bible. In that way we can embrace the commitment to do no harm.