Thank you for the question on the Messianic motif in the Gospel of Mark, “Why is the messianic secret a motif in Mark’s gospel?”
If Jesus came proclaiming that he is the Messiah and didn’t go the cross, there would be no kingdom people in the Kingdom of God.
The Law of Moses requires that one has faith in God and fulfill the Laws of God. There is no one who doesn’t sin against God or another person. The sacrifices of animals as the writer of Hebrew states can never take away sins. Without the removal of sin, the Jews and the non-Jews would face the condemnation of God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one. Thus, the issue of sin must be resolved for the Jews and non-Jews once and for all. Thus, if Jesus was to institute the Kingdom of God, he would have to separate between the sheep and the goats.
The Messianic promise is not a hidden motif in the Gospels. The Jews understood the words of John the Baptist that there is one coming after him. I cite the following passages that the Jews anticipated the coming of the Messiah:
A. John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Messiah after him (Mark 1:2–8).
The Jews understood the prophesy of Isaiah 40:3 and Mal.3:1. He further states that the Kingdom of God is near. If the Kingdom of God is near, then the King must also be near for there can’t be the kingdom without its king (vs. 15).
B. Jesus’ authority reflects his Messianic power as to heal, forgive sins, and being the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2).
The Jews questioned the authority and power of Jesus in his words and actions. “Who can forgive sin but God alone?” (vs. 7) and “So the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath” (vs. 28). The implication is that there was someone standing in their midst was more than a man. Can it be the Messiah that John the Baptist was proclaiming to have such authority and power?
C. Jesus declares the Kingdom Parables (Mark 4:1–20).
Jesus states clearly to the Apostles that the secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you (vs. 11). The secret of the Kingdom has been given to Jesus. He knows about it and he reveals it to his disciples. The Kingdom secret goes beyond the revealed Scriptures. Who is the person who knows the secret of the Kingdom. It would be the Messiah who would know about the Kingdom that others do not know about. As the Messiah, gives to them the secret of the kingdom while outsiders only hear parable.
D. Jesus commissions the Twelve to proclaim the Kingdom of God (Mark 6b-13).
Jesus selected 12 men and commissioned them to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Jesus gives them the same authority that he had over the sick and demons to the twelve men. A prophet may have the power of God upon himself, but no prophet can give his power to another person. Jesus gives this authority to preach and to heal people. The commissioning of the twelve reflects his authority as the Messiah to have others be his representatives.
E. Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ (Mark 8:27–30).
When Jesus asked the disciples who they thought he was, the disciples gave the answers from being Elijah or the Prophet. Jesus asked his followers who they thought that he was. Peter said, “You are the Messiah” (vs. 29b).
As a Jew, Jesus couldn’t accept this statement if that was not true. Jesus would be bearing false witness claiming something that he was not. He would be lying and complicit with Peter’s false statement. Peter believed that Jesus is the Christ and Jesus affirmed it.
One can continue to read the Gospel of Mark to discover other accounts of Jesus being the Messiah. Certainly at the trial of Jesus, the climax of whether Jesus is the King of the Jews or a heretic that claimed to be the King of Jews is contested by the people. A few days earlier, the crowd herald him as the Messiah. Is the Messianic motif a secret? The reader must decide for oneself.
Summary: The name of Jesus Christ means Savior-Messiah. If Jesus didn’t come as Savior, there would be no Kingdom people in the Kingdom. There would be no salvation at all.
-Kingston