Jesus Strongly Warned Him, “Don’t Tell Anyone!”

Mark 1:43
Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
Mark 1:44
“See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Mark 1:45
Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

A man with leprosy begged Jesus to heal him, Mark 1:40. Jesus healed him instantly, Mark 1:41-42. After that healing, Jesus sent the man away with a strong warning that he shouldn’t tell anyone. Jesus advised him to follow the laid down procedures which were to go and show himself to the priest and offer the relevant sacrifices.

Jesus had respect for laid down procedures. These were procedures put in place in the interest of public health. To protect everyone from infectious disease, there were procedures to follow before one got back into the community and interact with others. Followers of Jesus should also be keen to follow public health protocols put in place.

Jesus warned the healed leper not to tell anyone what Jesus had done to him. The man did not follow the advice Jesus gave him. The man went and told as many people as possible about his healing. The man spread the news far and wide. The man was too excited to keep calm. He was unable to contain himself and he failed Jesus in this condition. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

As a consequence of telling people about his healing, the ministry Jesus had in that territory was affected. People were seeking Him to see miracles and wonder. People’s attention had turned from listening to God’s word to curiosity about miracles. Jesus was no longer perceived and received as a Messiah with a message, He was now more of an entertainment. The excitement in the village prevented Jesus from going into the village. The ministry was seriously affected and Jesus had to keep off public spaces because this healed man couldn’t keep silent as advised. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

Jesus was hereby teaching us that we should be careful that the present success does not hinder future progress. Jesus also taught us that we should manage publicity. We should manage what goes out. We should care about what is publicly communicated. Good news is not always good to share. It may trigger jealousy and counter plans to ensure you do not succeed again. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

Good news can also logically lead to being misunderstood. What you didn’t intend can still happen since people interpret everything in their own way. Healing was for the good of the man, but now it led to Jesus being interpreted as an entertainer. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

Not every good thing must be shared with the public. Some good things are best kept as a secret since they may be misunderstood if they are shared publicly. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

Is the man to blame for ruining Jesus’ ministry in that village? Yes. Is everything lost because of his negligence? No. The Bible tells us that though Jesus stayed out of the village, people still came looking for him. God is able to ensure our mistakes do not create permanent damage. God is able to perform miracles that we desperately need after messing up. God always steps in and rescues the situation. The man messed up but Jesus still preached to the people of the village though from outside. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

Telling others about your healing is good, but when advised not to, we should listen to authority. In our own minds, we see no problem, but in the keen eyes of others, there is a problem. We should learn to obey even if we feel we know better. Even when we think we know better, many times we don’t. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

In this era of social media, be careful what you share publicly. Ask yourself if it is regrettable in the future. Ask yourself how it can be misunderstood. Ask yourself if it affects others who are associated with you. Ask yourself if it can trigger jealousy and cause someone to plan to stop you. Joseph told his dreams and it led to hatred and consequently, he was solved to slavery by his brothers. Not every good thing is worth sharing. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

We should avoid sharing plans. Plans can be undermined. We can be sabotaged if we tell all our plans publicly. Let the results speak for themselves. Many times when we share plans, we lose interest to pursue them to the end. Plans should secretly be unrolled and let results speak for themselves. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

We should avoid giving reports to all and sundry. Reports when keenly studied can betray your plans. You may be misunderstood as one who is bragging. You may be misunderstood as being on a political mission to win people. While some reports bring glory to God and are evangelistic testimony, not all should be shared publicly. They can haunt and hurt you. Jesus strongly warned him, “don’t tell anyone!”

May God grant me wisdom to manage my public spaces and what I publicly share about myself so that it does not harm God’s work or my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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