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TOM - Could you please explain to me why Christ many times told those whom He performed miracles for not to tell anyone else?
JOEL - He did seem to say that a lot, but then there were also times when he told them to go ahead and tell others of a miracle. From what I can tell there appears to be two reasons for
why he would instruct them to either tell or not tell; one practical and the other spiritual.
First of all Jesus did not want to be known primarily for his miracles, because when people would tell others about them it was hard for him to stay within any particular city to preach
his gospel. For example when the Pharisies found out that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead we are told:
"Then from that day forth they (the Pharisies) took counsel together for to put him to death.
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples."
(John 11:53-54)
So because of problems like this, when he wanted to stay in a given area he would ask the recipients of his miracles to keep quiet about them (See Mark 8:26, 30, Luke 9:21, Luke 8:56, Luke 9:36)
Sometimes however, the strategy of insisting that they don't tell anyone didn't work so well.
"And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; (Mark 7:36)
Only when Jesus was not desirous of remaining in a certain area, would he sometimes tell those whom he had healed it was OK to tell others. (See Luke 8:38-39, Mark 5:19-20)
The second reason was because of both the sacred nature of such manifestations and the tendency to not want to boast of the things He did.
"Do not your alms before men, to be seen of them." (Matt 6:1)
"Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." (Matt 6: 3)
And in the D&C we are told:
"Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit; (D&C 63:64)
"But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit
and for salvation. (D&C 84:73)
Some things that are sacred should not be broadcast aloud and all honor for such manifestations should be given to our Heavenly Father; not to the one who performed the miracle
nor to the recipient. The Savior's life was an example to us of this when for many of His healings he said, "Tell no man."
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