PONDERING... Why Can't They Speak? (Mark 1:34, 40-45)

Why Can’t They Speak? (PM Lesson Notes)

GIST: The most important need in a person’s life is seeing Jesus for who He really is.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:34, 40-45

34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him….

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and 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, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

I. WHY AREN’T THE DEMON’S ALLOWED TO SPEAK?

This question is probably easier to address. The demons have the right message, but the wrong source. Jesus doesn’t need or want the testimony of devils. Later, He is accused of casting out demons by demonic power (Mark 3:22-27); He doesn’t want anyone to mistake His power or His purpose.

II. WHY IS THE LEPER TOLD NOT TO SPEAK?

Let’s look a little at the situation first. Then, we’ll talk a bit about the reasons behind his restrictions.

Background

1. He was a leper. This disease was so devastating it caused people to be both social and physical outcasts. They were not allowed in the city, let alone in the places of worship.

2. He understood Jesus’ power. He comes to Jesus knowing He can heal Him, but unsure if He wants to. There is humility here. He doesn’t take Jesus’ power for granted. Yet, he likely expects Jesus to treat him like the rabbis of the day who would preach compassion and throw stones at lepers.

3. Jesus demonstrated great compassion. He touches him. This man was a leper. No one touched lepers. Jesus did. And the man was completely healed!

4. Then Jesus sternly charges him to obey the law and stay quiet. This word “sternly” means to “snort in anger”. It’s pretty strong language. He is very strict with this guy. He wants him to stay quiet about what happened and go and do what the law required. This would have verified the miracle for one, and shown that Jesus came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

5. He didn’t. The man goes and tells everyone anyway. Several of the materials I studied this week were quick to excuse this behavior because it’s understandable. He’d been amazingly healed. How was he not to speak? I understand that. It would be very difficult not to be excited. However, we see misplaced excitement here. Is he excited by who Jesus is, or by what has physically been done for him?

6. As a result, Jesus was swarmed by people. He can’t even enter the cities.

So, why was he told not to speak?

He had the right action, but the wrong content. Telling people about Jesus is what we’re supposed to be doing, right? But what are we supposed to be telling them about Jesus? That He is powerful and can heal their physical infirmities? That He can fix their marriages, straighten out their kids, help their finances, calm their stress, bring meaning to their careers? If you were an unbeliever looking at much of what is published in the name of Christianity today, you could very well draw this conclusion. BUT, that’s not the message. The message is salvation. It is a complete heart change through allegiance and relationship. It might not make anything about your physical life more comfortable, and the power to change the relationships in your lives is directly tied to His working in you and those around you. It’s an overflow effect, not the core purpose. Jesus wants people to come for the right reason...he saw this man’s heart. He knew he would not proclaim salvation, but physical healing.

Notice...he didn’t say this to Peter’s mother-in-law...who served Him. She was miraculously healed, as well, but He doesn’t tell her not to speak. Why? Well, it would at least seem, given her immediate service, that she saw the priority here--Jesus. Similarly, look at what Jesus tells the man saved from demonic possession in Mark 5:18-20 “18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” Right motive, right action, right content.

TAKEAWAYS

1. Be a witness for Jesus, not a distraction. Jesus takes His witness seriously. So should we. This is really the core of both examples. Neither the testimony of devils, nor the witness of people who emphasize the wrong thing speaks to the needs of their hearers. In fact, it just works to push people away from the truth they so desperately need. This reminds me of the “Satan-Bragging Testimonies” I’ve heard people address. Chances are, we’ve all heard one of these. You know, when someone has been changed, but they spend more time talking about the details of who they once were (focusing on the sins they once committed) than on how Jesus saved them and the great difference He has made. This can distract from the purpose. We’re to point people to Jesus.
2. Show compassion, even if you suspect wrong motives. Jesus knew some people came to Him for the wrong reasons--but was still compassionate...even if He knew they’d never come back. We can learn so much from this. Many come to us wanting. Where we are able, we should help without expectation or grumbling, but with prayers of compassion.