Don’t you think it is unusual that Jesus was often shushing people after he had healed them? For instance, after he healed the leper in Mark 1, he “strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone.'” (Verse 43-44) There are many other similar cases in the gospels.

Jesus wanted to heal those who needed healing but he had no need to become famous because of it. His life was going to make him famous but that’s not what he was about. He couldn’t be distracted from his mission by throngs of fans. Of course no one could keep quiet after they had been touched by the Lord.

This particular man “went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city…” But when he went out into the desert places they all followed him out there because they knew he had the real goods.

God is in the healing business today – he still has the goods. We need to pursue doing the works of Christ everywhere we go and we will see signs and wonders follow. But be careful. If you want to follow in Christ’s footsteps, don’t promote yourself or the acts you do in his name. If you have the real goods, you won’t need to.