Palm Sunday 2021

Messianic Secret

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

Examples

After Miracles

Mark 1.44

Mark 1:44 NASB95

44 and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

After peter confessed Jesus was the Messiah

After the Transfiguration

Why?

Jesus needed to teach many things before his ministry was done

His popularity grew quickly, despite the secret

Jesus knew that once coming out publicly, He would be crucified 5 days later

Though he knew the outcome of his entrance into Jerusalem, the message behind it was another key piece to His ministry.

Our Question

Are we keeping our ministry in this world a secret?

Society his becoming hostile towards Christianity on all fronts

Scientifically

historically, the burden of proof for the historicity of the Bible is unequal

Socially, there is a growing stigma placed on anyone who believes.

The reality is we will suffer something for our faith.

Jesus himself promised it

“Know that the world hated me first...”

But knowing this can we still proclaim our faith...

This takes us to today...

Jesus knew what would ultimately come of His entry into Jerusalem....Crucifixion!

Why....because the message of the Gospel, which was being authored, was essential for all of humanity....It was out of Love that he laid down his life to deliver the message.

“But we need to know that here on earth there has never been and never will be, true and perfect happiness and prosperity; for all our prosperity and happiness is only in God. No one will ever find true happiness and spiritual prosperity without God or outside God. Nothing in this world but God can fill our heart or fully satisfy our desires. A fire cannot be put out with brushwood and oil, because only water will put it out. In exactly the sameway, the desires of the human heart cannot be satisfied with the goods of this world, because only the grace of God can quench the thirst of our desires.”

~ St Gregory of Nyssa

Let us in the same way see the opportunities that come before us to share his gospel and seize them…Why, because He is the only one who can satisfy us and save us…that is a message worth suffering for!