Mark 3:12 - Multitudes Follow Jesus

Audio Bible

Context

Multitudes Follow Jesus
…11And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” 12But He warned them sternly not to make Him known. 13Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.…

Cross References

Matthew 12:16
warning them not to make Him known.Luke 4:41
Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.Matthew 8:4
Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”Mark 1:34
And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.Matthew 16:20
Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.Mark 8:30
And Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him.Luke 9:21
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.Isaiah 42:1-4
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. / He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets. / A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. ...Matthew 17:9
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”John 6:15
Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.John 7:10
But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went—not publicly, but in secret.John 8:59
At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.John 10:39
At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.John 11:54
As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Mark 1:25,34
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him…

Matthew 12:16
And charged them that they should not make him known:

Acts 16:18
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

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Mark 3

But He warned them sternly
In this passage, Jesus is addressing the unclean spirits who recognized Him as the Son of God. The term "sternly" indicates the seriousness and authority with which Jesus spoke. This reflects His divine authority over spiritual beings, a theme consistent throughout the Gospels. The warning also underscores the importance of timing in Jesus' ministry, as premature revelation of His identity could hinder His mission. This aligns with other instances where Jesus commands silence, such as in Mark 1:25 and Mark 1:34, emphasizing His control over the unfolding of His public ministry.

not to make Him known
The command for silence is significant in the context of the "Messianic Secret," a recurring theme in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus often instructs others not to reveal His identity. This can be seen as a strategic move to prevent misunderstandings about His mission, which was not to be a political or military leader, but a spiritual savior. The cultural and historical context of first-century Judea, with its messianic expectations, could have led to a misinterpretation of His role. This command also highlights the fulfillment of prophecy, as seen in Isaiah 42:1-4, where the Servant of the Lord is described as one who will not cry out or raise His voice in the streets, pointing to a humble and quiet approach to His mission.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is performing miracles and casting out demons. His authority and identity are being revealed through His actions.

2. Demons
Spiritual beings opposed to God, who recognize Jesus' divine authority and identity. They are the ones being commanded by Jesus in this verse.

3. Crowds
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the surrounding context involves large crowds following Jesus, eager to witness His miracles and hear His teachings.

4. Galilee
The region where Jesus is ministering at this time, a significant location for much of His early ministry.

5. Disciples
While not directly mentioned in this verse, they are present with Jesus, learning from His teachings and actions.

Teaching Points

Authority Over Evil
Jesus' command over the demons highlights His supreme authority over all spiritual forces. Believers can take comfort in knowing that Jesus has ultimate power over evil.

Divine Timing
Jesus' instruction not to make Him known reflects His understanding of divine timing. We should trust God's timing in our lives, even when it doesn't align with our own expectations.

Humility in Service
Jesus' reluctance to be publicly proclaimed at this time demonstrates His humility. As followers of Christ, we are called to serve with humility, not seeking our own glory.

Recognition of Jesus' Identity
The demons recognized Jesus' true identity, yet many people did not. We are challenged to recognize and proclaim Jesus as Lord in our own lives.

Guarding Our Witness
Just as Jesus controlled the revelation of His identity, we should be mindful of how we represent Christ to others, ensuring our actions align with His teachings.

Verse 12. - (See notes on Mark 1:44.) Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

He ordered
ἐπετίμα (epetima)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2008: From epi and timao; to tax upon, i.e. Censure or admonish; by implication, forbid.

them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

sternly
πολλὰ (polla)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

make
ποιήσωσιν (poiēsōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

Him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

known.
φανερὸν (phaneron)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5318: Apparent, clear, visible, manifest; adv: clearly. From phaino; shining, i.e. Apparent; neuter publicly, externally.

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