What Is a Command?

Mark 7:36-37 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
 
“WHAT is wrong with you? Why don’t you do what I ask of you?”
   You probably have heard that from someone who has asked you, told you, even commanded you to do something. When you didn’t do it, the person was completely frustrated with you. After all, the only appropriate response to an appropriate command is to do it. Right? But that’s not the crowds’ response when “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.” What did “they” do? “The more he (commanded them to not tell); the more they kept talking about it.” Jesus often commanded this when he healed. Each time he did so people could not keep quiet. Can you blame them? They were overwhelmed with amazement. How could anyone keep the good news to themselves?
   They may have been more obedient if they had understood who commanded them. Yes, this very good, life-changing news was too much to hold within their hearts. But would they not have had some fear of Jesus? If he could heal, he could destroy. Disobeying such a powerful man could have jeopardized their lives. The Jews’ history records many times when God judges and destroys his disobedient people.
   Disobedience is anchored in self-justification. The Jews would have said, “I had to tell somebody! People need to know!” We excuse our disobedience with reasons to elevate our purpose and desires above the Lord’s will. To pray, “Your will be done.” and then reject God’s commands is hypocrisy.
   This crowd’s and others’ response to Jesus’ command may cause us to  wonder why Jesus continued his work to save such a disobedient people? But this is God’s constant story, isn’t it? Reading the Bible can be a discouraging view of the human heart continually rejecting God and justifying itself. But also in each chapter is God’s unrelenting hope. His redemptive promise surges through mankind’s debris to flow to eternal good. We know where history is going. We thank God he continues to command us on our journey toward heaven. He has set the plan and the pathway. He knows how the depraved human heart will respond to his commands. He also knows how the saved human heart will rejoice to dwell in his commands. Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
   From the very beginning, God commanded Adam and Eve to not eat the forbidden fruit. They disobeyed. God commanded the Hebrews on Mt. Sinai to follow 10 essential laws. They disobeyed. The prophets commanded God’s people to repent. The people disobeyed. Jesus command his people to believe his Good News. The Jews disobeyed. Now the Spirit of God comes to command you the truth of God’s Word. What do you do?
  
Know and Believe: There is only one just response to God’s commands.