why the secrecy?

[wiggbuggie]

of Jesus and God? In the gospels we often read that Jesus withdrew from crowds and told people he healed to be silent about him (as well as evil spirits). Not to mention why doesn't God simply show himself to the world and say here i am! and I love you like a dear son/daughter

[runningdude]

God tried that. He walked among Adam and Eve, and we sinned.

He flooded the world, leaving only the good among us, and we sinned.

He sent plagues and parted the Red Sea, but still we sinned.

He sent his very Son to save us, and we sinned.


Why do you assume that God broadcasting his voice from the sky like Bob Shepard would produce different results?

[Veronica97]

In Bible study, we were told one of the reasons Jesus did this is because there were "black magicians" at that time who did perform "miracles". Jesus did not want to be associated with them. Nor did He want to be only seen as a "Miracle Worker". He didn't want the crowds to follow Him because He performed Miracles. He only performed the miracles in order to show people who He TRULY was. He wanted people to follow Him because they recognized He was the Son of God.

[Blacksword]

Originally Posted by wiggbuggie

of Jesus and God? In the gospels we often read that Jesus withdrew from crowds and told people he healed to be silent about him (as well as evil spirits). Not to mention why doesn't God simply show himself to the world and say here i am! and I love you like a dear son/daughter

Because Jesus wasn't coming in the incarnation as King and Lord, and thus could not allow the crowds to divert or frustrate the divine purpose for which he came by an attempt at crowning him King and Messiah by demand of the common people. His divine purpose was to establish his Church, die as the Paschal Lamb in atonment for sins, and then rise again as a sign of the conquering of death.

As for God "simply" showing Himself to the world: the physical constraints and limitations of the universe itself make this an impossibility I posit. God is that which is of such infinite might, expanse, and uncontainability that to "break in" to the universe would be its undoing. We might like to introduce ourselves to the ant colony we've been watching from behind the glass, for instance, but doing so means destroying the glass, and the colony. Note that this is not a limitation on God's abilities or power, as an atheist might argue, as it is not a limit on God to assert that God cannot, as a matter of logic, be other than what His essential nature is. As part of His essential nature, by definition, God is uncontainably, infinitely expansive and "real", and thus cannot enter the contained, limited creation without remaining infinite and uncontainable...which thus would result in the creation itself being destroyed in the process...like overfilling a balloon to the point that it bursts. Hope that helps.

[JonathonofOhio]

Originally Posted by wiggbuggie

of Jesus and God? In the gospels we often read that Jesus withdrew from crowds and told people he healed to be silent about him (as well as evil spirits). Not to mention why doesn't God simply show himself to the world and say here i am! and I love you like a dear son/daughter

Jesus is God. He showed himself to the world and He said, "Here I am!", and he loved us. Jesus revealed to the people that he was God. It's for this reason they wanted to kill Him (John 10:30–33).

[TimothyH]

Originally Posted by wiggbuggie

of Jesus and God? In the gospels we often read that Jesus withdrew from crowds and told people he healed to be silent about him (as well as evil spirits). Not to mention why doesn't God simply show himself to the world and say here i am! and I love you like a dear son/daughter

God chose to become one of us, a real man.

Jesus was a real man who lived a real society and culture in first century Israel. He had to deal with real people and real threats against his life. We have to understand the politics and culture in which Jesus lived and the nature of the work he was sent to do in light of his real humanity and the obstacles he faced within his time and place.

Jeses withdrew from the crowds and told people to be silent becuse the Jews were trying to kill him and his work was not yet done. The Jews were actively looking for him to put him to death and he still had things to do.

Jesus even strictly orders his own disciples to keep quiet.

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,* and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. (Matthew 16:18:20)

This is a key moment in the establishment of God's new kingdom, one with which every Catholic is familiar. This is the moment when Jesus transfers the authority of the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom. This is the moment where God begins to remove the authority of the pharisees, scribes and chief priests who sit on the Chair of Moses and give that same authority to those who will sit instead on the Chair of Peter.

In removing the chief priests from their positions of authority and appointing Peter as his prime minister, Jesus is asserting himself as a king. Only kings appoint prime ministers. Only kings have authority to establish kingdoms.

Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. (John 6:15)

Jesus strictly orders his disciples to tell no one that he is the Messiah/King/Christ because he knew that the Jews would try to kill him all the more.

After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. (John 7:1)

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus because their own authority was threatened, but Jesus knew that his work was not yet finished. I find the following passage fascinating.

Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." (John 12:20-23)

Some Greeks want to speak with Jesus. Non-Jews heard his message and wish to come to him and learn from him. Jesus' response is not "Sure, let them in" or "Tell them to go away, I'm busy." Jesus answer is "My hour has come". Jesus' response is that his work on earth is almost finished. He has preached to the Jews and the fact that even the Gentiles are beginning to accept him is a signal that his days of preaching are ending and now he must complete his work through his death. The Greeks represent the rest of the world - those who are beginning to accept his message. At this point, Jesus knows that his work here is almost done.

Jesus knew that his work was not yet complete and what the signs would be that his work was nearing completion. He protected himself until he recieved those signs and sometimes that required withdrawal, hiding, strictly ordering people not to publicize his name. He would not let the Jews kill him prematurely, before he had acomplished all his Father had sent him to do.


-Tim-

[wiggbuggie]

Originally Posted by Blacksword

Because Jesus wasn't coming in the incarnation as King and Lord, and thus could not allow the crowds to divert or frustrate the divine purpose for which he came by an attempt at crowning him King and Messiah by demand of the common people. His divine purpose was to establish his Church, die as the Paschal Lamb in atonment for sins, and then rise again as a sign of the conquering of death.

As for God "simply" showing Himself to the world: the physical constraints and limitations of the universe itself make this an impossibility I posit. God is that which is of such infinite might, expanse, and uncontainability that to "break in" to the universe would be its undoing. We might like to introduce ourselves to the ant colony we've been watching from behind the glass, for instance, but doing so means destroying the glass, and the colony. Note that this is not a limitation on God's abilities or power, as an atheist might argue, as it is not a limit on God to assert that God cannot, as a matter of logic, be other than what His essential nature is. As part of His essential nature, by definition, God is uncontainably, infinitely expansive and "real", and thus cannot enter the contained, limited creation without remaining infinite and uncontainable...which thus would result in the creation itself being destroyed in the process...like overfilling a balloon to the point that it bursts. Hope that helps.

There was a believe in old testament times if you see God you are going to die (exodus and mount sinai) So what your saying God is so great an infinate coming into a finate and viewing with natural eyes we would destroy ourselves. Thats why God sent the prophets and last his only son jesus (God in flesh) since its the only way he can commincate with us.

[AlanFromWichita]

Jesus didn't come to do visible miracles because they needed to be done. He did them to show He had authority. Jesus said that the person who believes in Him will do greater works than "these." How can that be?

The real miracles are the acts of mercy that are performed in His name. He plants the seeds; the miracles are in those faithful hearts, and they emerge from there.

Or think about it like plugging a lawn instead of sodding it. He plants a tuft here and there and over 2000 years it spreads so now it's ready for harvest. Too much exposure and they would have mobbed Him so much He wouldn't have been able to get around. Though He was God, for His appearance on this earth He subjected Himself to human mortality and only had limited resources. He had to achieve the mission which was to plant "seeds" (aka "thoughts" or "memes") far and wide enough to know they would take root after He was gone, and thrive.

Alan