Warning: Tell No One about Jesus

Lenten Journey 2024 | Resurrection Sunday | Jesus Christ | Christianity

Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash

The series:

Lent 2024 Week 1 | Lent 2024 Week 2 | Lent 2024 Week 3 | Lent 2024 Week 4 | Lent 2024 Week 5 | Lent 2024 Week 6 | Palm Sunday 2024 | Maundy Thursday 2024 | Good Friday 2024 | Resurrection Sunday 2024

My Lenten Journey 2024 Continues

On Saturday, February 24th, some Christian sisters and I attended the “Going Beyond” conference with Priscilla Shirer as our Bible teacher and her brother Anthony Evans, Jr., leading us in worship. [ Going Beyond Ministries | Anthony Evans Music - not affiliate links ]

Day-to-day life has been quite busy for me, and I know you, dear readers, understand that. Your lives are busy as well. I felt my quiet time with the Lord wasn’t what it could be. Have you felt this way as well?

I so needed to have a day in an arena with approximately 3,000 of my sisters in Jesus. The teaching and the worship were powerful. Obviously, Jesus was there (Matthew 18:20), and He touched each one of us. Among many topics, primarily Priscilla encouraged us to:

• Know who Jesus truly is (“Who do you say I am? See Luke 9:18-20 and Matthew 16:16)

• Follow the true Jesus as faithfully as you can (the Holy Spirit is happy to help you - read my series). Is He first in your heart and in your life?

• Stand firm in Jesus and God’s word as the world culture continues to grow more anti-God, and wants you to change and conform to its beliefs

• Repent before Jesus and return to your first love, if your spiritual “fire” has grown cold, and if other things have first place in your heart (Revelation 2)

These are not “Christianity 101” concepts. These are solid words to ponder even for mature believers. The “Going Beyond” event not only challenged us, it also affirmed and rooted us in our Abba’s deep love for us, His very beloved and cherished children. Through the worship and time in His word, the Lord affirmed that He is always our “good, good” Father.

Second Sunday in Lent

Readings

This Sunday’s readings, according to one liturgical Church Calendar, are the following verses for the First Reading, a Psalm, an Epistle, and the Gospel. Here are the links for you to read as you have time this week:
[URLs to go Biblegateway.com - version is the HCSB]

• Genesis 17:1-7; and 15-16

• Psalm 22:23-31

• Romans 5:1-11

• Mark 8:27-38

For this post, we’ll examine Mark 8:27-30.

Jesus Is the Messiah but Keep it a Secret

All my Christian life, I’ve wondered why, in verse 30, Jesus warned His closest followers not to tell others about Him being the Messiah.

Mark 8:27-30 (HCSB)
²⁷ Jesus went out with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

²⁸ They answered Him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But you,” He asked them again, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered Him, “You are the Messiah!”

³⁰ And He strictly warned them to tell no one about Him.

There is so much I could unpack here, but I have to keep this post short.

Most of us were taught in church something like this:

8:30 Many Jews at the time expected the Messiah to be a political figure. If they found out about Jesus’ identity, they might attempt to make Him king, misunderstanding His true mission to suffer and die on behalf of humanity (see vv. 31–38; 10:45). In contemporary Jewish thought, many thought that it was necessary for the Messiah to throw off oppressive foreign rule and reestablish Israel as an independent kingdom. Local Roman officials could violently cut short His ministry, even if they just heard that He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. Although Jesus continues to teach that it is necessary for Him to suffer, die, and be raised, the events must occur according to God’s will and timing.

~FaithLife Study Bible on Logos Bible Software

And yet, there may be more to this account than the human political side of things (there always is when we keep the unseen spiritual realm in mind).

In my first post about Lent, I ended with these words:

This Lenten season, I’m going to be digging deep and studying God’s word surrounding Jesus’ life-giving rescue mission in ways I haven’t in the past.

My post last week hinted at something during Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Thanks to the free Bible study tools I use, we learn that the enemy was curious why the second person of the Trinity was now on Earth and walking around in smelly human flesh.

Did the devil know the entire story? Did he know what would be the results to him and his rebellious dominion after Christ’s redemptive victory?

If he knew, would Satan have influenced Judas (“entered into him”) to betray Jesus?

And, why did this event occur in the Caesarea Philippi area, which is near Mt. Hermon? (Jesus traveled to that area only once during His ministry.) To find out, dig deeper using the Bible study tools you have on hand, and by searching trusted sources online. Share what you find in the Comments, or feel free to ask me questions as to what I’ve found.

The Great Commission Is the Secret Exposed

The terrific news is because of our Messiah’s victory over sin and death, over the cross and the grave, we can now tell anybody and everyone that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

And, that’s what Priscilla Shirer encouraged us to do. If we know who Jesus truly is, if we say we follow Him, then let others know why you do.

Note: A dear sister in Christ told me this week that studies of American churches report that only 3% of church attendees read God’s word on a regular (daily) basis. I’ve seen percentages reported at around 30%. But, decided to take a look for 2023:

State of the Bible - American Bible Society

Whether 3% or 30%, even the higher number is very low when we think of how many Christians read God’s word. And, any of these numbers, plus the chart from the American Bible Society, show me it’s time for repentance this Lenten season.

Priscilla read from Revelation 2, and asked us if we had lost our first love. If we have, Jesus said to repent and return. For how can we stand firm in Jesus, as the culture grows more and more anti-God, if we’re not anchored solidly in God’s word?

How can we share God’s good news if we’re not growing daily in a personal relationship with Him through His word?

Priscilla also reminded us of Jesus’ words here:

Mark 8:34-38 (HSBC)
³⁴ Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. ³⁶ For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? ³⁷ What can a man give in exchange for his life? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

During Lent, we need to think about these things. I need to repent and grow in my relationship with God and in sharing Him with not-yet believers. How about you, dear readers?

We are all sinners saved by His incredible grace. Maybe this post was a hard one for you to read. I warmly invite you to continue on this Lenten Season 2024 journey with me. Join me in acknowledging any areas the Holy Spirit may be showing you and me where we need to repent.

1 John 1:5-9 (ESV)
⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I am deeply grateful He is so forgiving!

And, He’s our best cheerleader. Let’s lean into Him (His yoke is easy and His burden is light). Let’s trust Him to do His good work in us this Lenten Season as we surrender to Him.

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria!

And, if you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, please come along on this journey with us. You are welcome here.

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