The Standard March 28, 2026
Jesus had a timeline for exactly when certain things about himself would be revealed. Not infrequently, especially early in his ministry, he performed miracles yet told those who knew about them not to talk about what had happened. He knew his twelve disciples needed to watch him and be taught for quite a while before they could understand his mission and the seeming tragedy he would face. Jesus was keenly aware that the teachers of the Jewish Law, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, would not react kindly to answers about his authority and purpose.
“When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’” Matthew 8:1-4
In Matthew chapter 9, verse 27, two blind men followed Jesus and urged, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” They believed that Jesus was able to heal them, so he touched their eyes and restored their sight, warning them sternly not to tell about what he had done. Instead, they went out and spread the news.
Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 16, asked the disciples who people were saying the Son of Man was. Simon Peter confessed him as Messiah and Son of the living God, but Jesus instructed the disciples not to disclose his messianic identity at that time.
After being transfigured on the mountain in the presence of Peter, James, and John, his face shining like the sun and the voice of the Father declaring his love and pleasure regarding his Son, Jesus instructed the three not to tell anyone what they had seen until he had been raised from the dead. This was recorded in Matthew 17.
The Jewish leaders became increasingly hostile to the miracles and popularity of Jesus. They attempted to trap him into saying forbidden things, so they would have a reason to arrest or harm him. Of course, Jesus knew their intentions. He would not be drawn into their tricks, and spoke shrewdly in response.
“Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’ Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?’
They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’
So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’ Then he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’” Matthew 20:23-27
We also must discern when it is best to speak and when it is better to remain silent. There are those who truly desire challenging spiritual conversations and others who prefer fruitless arguments. May the Holy Spirit give us discernment as to when and how we should speak.
celiastone 