SECRET IDENTITY

SECRET IDENTITY

 

“Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matt. 16:20-21)

Christ has always held it seems a secret identity. Although He was the Messiah sent from heaven from the Father He failed to convince the chosen nation to accept His message. The fact that He demanded repentance was the major factor for His rejection despite irrefutable proof.

He then admonishes His disciples not to reveal His identity (Matt. 16:20). Why?

His reasoning for this admonition is doubtless to be explained this way:

1.       The Israeli leadership and the people have rejected both the King and the Kingdom.
2.       The revelation of His identity would not change their rejection nor would their eyes be opened by it. They needed repentance.
3.       But the effect would only serve to inflame them and increase the efforts to hasten His death.
4.       Christ did not intend neither that He nor His disciples should move ahead of the time and place for His death.

Why must He die in order to establish this Kingdom? More later!