Don’t go tell? Are you Sure?

     Here it is again! I’m a little ahead of the reading plan we’re using at the church. I read chapter 16 this morning, and that puzzling little phrase popped up again. Don’t go tell anybody.

     Now you would expect to hear this from a guilty person who doesn’t want anybody to know what they just did, but these words are coming from Jesus! And He has said them several times in these 16 short chapters. This has really been bothering me.
     In chapter 9 for instance Jesus healed two blind men and told them not to go tell anyone. Now, I don’t know about you, but if someone I knew was blind when I saw them yesterday but could see when I was them today, I think I would notice. You’d be pretty self-absorbed not to don’t you think? I’m reasonably sure everyone they knew – even casual acquaintances – wanted to know what happened. Newspaper cameras probably came to their house – well, they would if it happened today. Today Oprah would call and want them to be on her show. There might be a book contract. I don’t think they would be able to keep news like this on the down low. My commentary says Jesus didn’t want them to say anything because He didn’t want to be known just as that guy who heals everyone. He didn’t want the hype to overtake His reason for coming and choke out His message.
     Personally, I can’t help but wonder if a little mystery forded them more of an opportunity to share. If they had run home, ranting and raving about how Jesus had healed them, I think some people would have checked them off as fanatics and walked on; however, since they went home and went about their business, their actions spoke volumes and got EVERYONE’s attention. This tells me my actions sometimes speak louder than my words do. Now, this doesn’t mean I am not to share the Gospel. In chapter 10 He tells the disciples to shout His message, but perhaps there are situations where my actions need to precede the message. Oh my, no pressure, but this points out to me how important my actions are because I don’t know who is watching and when they may be watching. I also don’t know without the Spirits guidance, when to speak and when to wait.  I must listen closely to the Spirit, and I can’t do that if my mouth is constantly flapping!  Shhhhhh!  Robin, listen.

Guide my actions and my words today, Lord. Help me know what to say and when. Help my actions speak loud and clear of You and all You have done! Thank you, Jesus, for your wisdom and love.