Here's Hunter and Holly about the same age as in the journaling. Ahhhh. So precious! Where does the time go?
Has someone ever told you something exciting, possibly life changing, and they said, “Don’t tell anyone”? I bet you were about to bust at the seams to tell someone! But as soon as the time was right and you were given permission to tell, boy oh boy watch out for the enthusiasm.
I remember (Well, I did have to call my mother-in-law to retell the story to me.) when we were having the grandparents over to reveal to them the sex of our third child. Holly (a little over two years old at the time) was standing on one side of the door with her nose pressed against the window, and Hunter (4 ½ years) was looking out the other window. The grandparents arrived at the same time and were standing at the door. Hunter said to them, without even opening the door, “Mom and Dad said that I can’t tell you what the baby is, but I’m soooo happy!!!!” Well, they knew instantly what the sex was. Hunter had already made it known that since he already had a sister, he wanted a brother.
Could you just feel Hunter’s excitement? I mean the kid couldn’t even wait for the door to open before he blurred his words with such emotion.
When I read Mark 5:43 I was like, “There He goes again!” Who? Jesus. Again, after performing another miracle He told the people not to tell anyone. It says in verse 43, “Jesus gave the father and mother very strict orders not to tell people about this.” He instructed this to the parents of a young girl who was pronounced dead, and “Then Jesus held the girl’s hand and said to her, “Talitha, koum!” (This means “Little girl, I tell you to stand up!”) (verse 41).
I have read those words numerous times….
- Matthew 8:4, “Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
- Matthew 9:30, “Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.”
- Matthew 17:9, “As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
And every time I read what Jesus said, I question “Why?”. I would probably want to run out into the streets, post it on Facebook, put an ad in the newspaper, etc. spreading the good news. Then again, if Jesus told me not to say anything, I just may be too afraid to disobey Him and listen to His words.
Was it because He was so humble and didn’t want the attention drawn to Him due to just miracles? Did He have a plan and knew that things would be revealed in His time, at the right time? Was Christ testing the obedience of the believers? Maybe He wanted the miracle to settle in that person or persons to enrich their relationship with Christ.
Whatever the reason is for Christ saying, “Don’t tell” I’m quite sure that is was all according to His plan.
He instructs us now to go out and spread the Good News. Mark 15:16 says, “Then Jesus said to them, “So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News.” Whew, good thing, because that is some exciting news that just doesn’t need to be held back.
Blessings to you!
February 28
