Hello ECP Family, welcome to your 2/11/23 Weeklies (weekly devotion) originated by Charles L. Robinson Jr. of Edifying Christian Publications. This devotion is penned to assist you from the perspective of being mindful regarding season(s) of "the unknown" can be your blessing in disguise and not your impediment. This blessing and not impediment applies to you in your individual-personal isolated circumstance(s) and your corporate circumstance(s) - circumstances whereby you are a joint heir subject to the effects of your group involvement. Your season(s) of lacking understanding within particular circumstance(s) can seem to be a hinderance or interference towards you when actually your season(s) of lacking understanding can be divinely designed to protect you. You understanding that your season(s) of lacking understanding in particular circumstance(s) promotes you to not inflate circumstance(s) which inevitably allows you to remain focused (not distracted) and continue functioning in a natural manner while waiting for greater understanding(s) is a blessing. Once greater understanding towards your particular circumstance(s) is received, then you experience a greater sense of closure regarding the circumstance(s) which promotes rooting and greater effectiveness within the particular circumstance(s.) Draw from your previous experiences whereby your season(s) of lacking understanding grew to greater understanding purposed to build your trust in God that you will gain greater understanding. Remember, today's devotion is purposed for your understanding, strength, and encouragement for greater handling your season(s) of lacking understanding while you are waiting for your greater understanding(s).
The "messianic secret" biblically supports your above devotional encouragement. The "messianic secret" promotes silence which ultimately fuels "the unknown". This silence-unknown can be subject to those who have lack (partial) understanding and those who have no understanding. Believers (the disciples) had lack (partial) understanding and did not gain greater understanding until after Christ's resurrection, ascension, and birth of the church. Before Christ's resurrection, ascension, and the birth of the church, Jesus instructed the disciples to be silent( in this particular circumstance) because he did not want them to inflate the particular circumstance (while in their season of lacking understanding) which inevitably helped them to remain focused (not distracted) being pupils of Christ while waiting for future understanding. Their eventual greater understanding positioned them into greater stewardship within their divine callings moving into their church days. Peter individually (and corporately involved amongst the group of disciples) could reflect specifically from his previous experience of "understanding-knowing that Jesus is the Christ" to help greater trust the seasons of the unknown. How? His previous experience personally reminds him and the other disciples amongst him in the group that God is real and God does reveal which inevitably helps them to reflect and trust God in season(s) of lacking understanding while waiting for greater understanding.
"And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. And he charged them that they should tell no man of him". Mark 8:27-30