Matthew 16:13-20: Worst Evangelism Plan, Ever.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. - Matthew 16:13-20

Worst evangelism plan, ever. "Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah." Why did I even bother taking EE? The standing orders from Jesus here, and in other places was to say nothing about the Messiah. Why? Because God was doing things and going to do things and then they could talk about the Messiah. If they spoke too soon, they wouldn't be helping Jesus at all. In fact, they would be getting in the way.  According to N.T. Wright, Jesus was always walking a tightrope of proving he was the Messiah while at the same time avoiding bringing down the wrath of the high priests and the romans too early.

The fact that they were able to see what they had seen as like being given a sneak preview of a new movie. Reviewers of a new moving have to have their news stories published on the day when the movie comes out, which wouldn't be possible if they didn't get to see it early. So they agree to a gag order, a non-disclosure agreement, where, in exchange for an early look, they agree not to say anything before a certain date. The movie producers don't want to control the timing of the news because otherwise an ill-timed review could tank the movie and spoil the movie for other viewers.

It was the same for Jesus. The disciples got the early look and even got a special inside look at "the making of the Messiah" But Jesus gave them a gag order-don't say too much, too early. The people had to see God at work and then their "Messiah reviews" would be much more powerful. But if they spoke before God's big move, their words would wilt. Evangelism is about letting God demonstrate first, then we speak. People don't listen to our words about God until they have 1st hand experience of God at work.