Some Bible scholars have called this phenomenon the “Messianic Secret.” The Gospels record instances when Jesus did not want anyone to know that He was the Messiah. For example, in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus often concealed His identity. After performing miracles, Jesus would command people not to speak about what He had done (Mark 1:44; 7:36). After Peter’s great confession that Jesus was the Christ (the Messiah), He charged His disciples not to tell anyone (Mark 8:30; Matt. 16:20). Jesus also silenced demons who recognized His true identity, instructing them not to make Him known (Mark 1:24-25, 34; 3:12).
Concealing His identity at times does not mean that Jesus’ public ministry was secretive. He was never reluctant to reveal His mission and message. He publicly preached the gospel of the kingdom of God in Galilee (Mark 1:14-15) and performed healings and other miracles in public (Mark 1:34; 2:1-12; 4:35-41; 6:30-44). After healing the demon-possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes (NASB), Jesus told him to share the news openly (Mark 5:19). In all these instances, Jesus was by no means secretive.
Theological and practical reasons may have led Him to avoid popularity. In doing this, His goal was to dampen popular expectations of a militaristic Messiah who would liberate the Jewish nation from Roman rule and establish a kingdom for them. Jesus wanted to fulfill the ministry the Father had given Him according to the Father’s will and timing. He wanted to define His messiahship on His own terms — not as a conquering king, but as a suffering servant (Isa. 53) who came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
The crowds were becoming larger and unmanageable, and at times Jesus wanted to get away (Mark 6:31-32). He sought solitude but was often thwarted by the crowds: “Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice” (Mark 7:24, NASB). He was attempting to prolong His ability to move freely despite the ever-growing multitudes (Mark 6:53-56). At other times, He had to be firm in leaving one group of people so He could minister to another (Luke 4:42-43). Then, too, large crowds would have attracted even more attention from the religious authorities, who already opposed Jesus’ ministry. Thus, Jesus concealed His identity at times so He would not be arrested before the appropriate time. He had work to finish before going to the cross. The proper time had to come for the revealing of His identity, His self-disclosure.
It is important to note that throughout His ministry, Jesus followed a broader pattern of simultaneously concealing and revealing His identity and message. In the great gospel invitation (Matt. 11:25-30), Jesus spoke about God’s sovereign concealing and revealing. The true identity of the Messiah was concealed from the wise and prudent Jewish leaders, who were arrogant and unrepentant, yet God revealed the truth to those who were humble and willing to believe: “…thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matt. 11:25).
Jesus used parables to conceal the truth from unbelievers while explaining it to His disciples (Matt. 13:11-17). He veiled the truth from those who had already rejected the light and truth given to them (Matt. 13:12-13). Further exposure to the truth would only increase their condemnation.
Despite Jesus’ clear self-revelation, the disciples struggled to fully grasp what He had revealed to them (Mark 4:13; 6:52; 8:17; 9:19). But thank God, the “Messianic Secret” is no more. The written Word has given us the full revelation of the Incarnate Word. Let us not keep silent; let us proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord.