Why the Gag Order?

# 502 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 8:30, “Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.”

Speaking for the rest of the disciples, Peter has just made his foundational confession that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, and Jesus tells them to put a lid on it!

It's always a little puzzling when Jesus does some muzzling. I mean, these guys get it! They realize that Jesus in not just a mere man, but the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Why the gag order?

The Lutheran commentator Lenski puts it this way: “In the first place, they were not ready to reveal this to others properly. The fulness of what “the Christ” meant was not yet revealed to them.” (Remember they were still believing that He would overthrow Rome and be their earthly Messiah)

Knowledge concerning the Messiah would come to them in part during the forty days after His resurrection, and the complete fulness would come when the Holy Spirit was poured out in their hearts on the day of Pentecost.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Just think for a moment how these simple men would've been chewed up by the religious authorities if they would not have the aid of the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit who Jesus promised would “teach them all things,” ( Jn 14:26), guide them into all truth, (Jn 16:13) and would give them the words to speak when brought before magistrates. ( Mr 14:11).

The disciples needed to be muzzled at this time, but there is no more need to be muzzled, for this same Holy Spirit abides in all baptized believers today, and He wants us to shout it from the rooftops. Jesus is the Christ! The Son of the Living God!

Father, thank You for revealing this truth to us, now give us opportunity to speak it to others.