Communion 2025

MESSIANIC SECRET The recurring theme in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus ordered certain individuals to keep aspects of His location, deeds, and identity secret.

Biblical Development

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus often commanded His disciples, those who witnessed miracles, and demons to keep quiet concerning His location, deeds, and identity:

• Jesus commonly taught the disciples separately from the crowds (Mark 4:13, 34; 7:17; 9:28–29, 30–31; 10:10–11; 13:3).

• Jesus asked several people whom He healed and the family of a girl He brought back to life not to speak of it to anyone (Mark 1:43–44; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26).

• He commanded demons who were privy to His true identity to be silent so that the crowds wouldn’t learn He was the Son of God (Mark 1:34; 1:24–25; 3:11-12; 5:7).

• After Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus warned the disciples not to reveal His messianic identity to outsiders (Mark 8:29–30).

• After His transfiguration (Mark 9:2–8), Jesus ordered Peter, James, and John not to tell anyone what they had witnessed—both the transfiguration and the heavenly voice that affirmed Jesus’ status as “My beloved Son.” He ordered them to stay silent “until the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9 ESV).M