“Jesus ordered them
To tell no one.
But the more
He ordered them,
The more zealously
They proclaimed it.”
καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ λέγωσιν· ὅσον δὲ αὐτοῖς διεστέλλετο, αὐτοὶ μᾶλλον περισσότερον ἐκήρυσσον.
Once again, this unique saying of Mark had Jesus order or instruct this man and the crowd with him (καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς) not to tell anyone about it (ἵνα μηδενὶ λέγωσιν). However, the more he ordered or instructed them to be quiet (ὅσον δὲ αὐτοῖς διεστέλλετο,), the more zealously they proclaimed it (αὐτοὶ μᾶλλον περισσότερον ἐκήρυσσον). This was the strange Messianic secret that no one could keep secret. The ironic twist was that the crowds saw what was happening, yet Jesus was trying not to let people tell others. On the other hand, he would send his apostles out to preach. What did he expect to happen?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 