"A COMMANDMENT
NOT TO BE OBEYED"

"And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one." This was a command that our Lord gave to His apostles in Luke 9:21.

What was this that Jesus commanded them not to tell any man? Well...He had just quizzed His apostles as to who He might be thought to be among the multitudes. They answered in verse 19, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again." Jesus asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." It was then that Jesus told them to tell no one.

Why did Jesus make this request right after Peter's great confession? Jesus was quite sure that His apostles still did not have a full understanding of the Kingdom nor who He was. Christ had a timetable for all things, and it was not the right moment to reveal this.

One might wonder if many believe that this command applies to us today. Many Christians do not talk about Jesus at all after they leave the church building. What they experienced in worship does not carry over to their daily life, in a desire to share it with others. They do not talk about God with their neighbors, their children, or the people with whom they work. Many do not even talk with God, much less about Him.

"Tell this to no one" is a commandment that is obeyed today because it precludes our involvement, or study, or answering questions, or disagreements that might arise. Many do not want to jeopardize friendships. It's the easy way out! We'll just depend on others to fulfill the Great Commissions for us.

We must remember, that this command was given to the apostles for a limited time. We are to tell the Good News of Jesus, to share Him, to take the Gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15, 16). The growth of the early church was not only due to the great preachers, but to every member sharing Christ with his neighbor (Acts 8:4).

They could not be silent. They said, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:20).

And so must we!