Why were people confused over Jesus true identity? And why did he add to the confusion?

According to Mark 8:27-28 some people thought he was Elijah, John the Baptist or Jeremiah





but curiously, instead of CLARIFYING his identity...





Mark 8:30 ';Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him';





whats that all about?Why were people confused over Jesus true identity? And why did he add to the confusion?
There is considerable doubt as to whether he actually existed at allWhy were people confused over Jesus true identity? And why did he add to the confusion?
One factor that contributed to the confussion is that Jesus refused the efforts of the people to make him king.





Some had an incorrect understanding of the scrolls and thought that the the Messiahs kingdom would be earthly, not heavenly. Thus his refusal made them question his identity. (John 6:10-15)





Another reason is that when challenged by his enimies, Jesus did not provide a sighn from the heavens to prove who was(of course this would have been casting pearls before swine). As a result some drew the conclusion that he was some other faithfull, and powerful man like Elijah or John.





Jesus admonotion for others not tell of his miricles was not to add further questionings. He too wanted to make clear his identity.





However, Jesus did not want his miricles to be advertised. He did not want people to reach conclusions based on sensational or possibly distorted facts and stories about his activities. Rather,he wanted people to see for themselvs that he was the Chirst and make a personal decison based on that evidence.





To accomplish this Jesus travled far and wide so that people all over could see and learn the truth for themselves and when he died he left this work to his disciples(Matthew 24:14)
Confusion over Jesus' true identity:


Jesus' wisdom and miraculous ministry caused the people to look to the only reference they had for an answer to who Jesus was. Only the prophets had done miracles so many thought he was a prophet.





The Jews were looking for the promised Messiah to come and establish his kingdom and deliver Israel once and for all from their enemies. They were totally focused on a literal, physical kingdom, so they weren't comprehending when Jesus began to talk about the ';Kingdom of God';.





Why didn't Jesus clarify who He was?


Jesus knew what was ahead in the opposition He would face. When He instructed those he healed to go and tell no one, He was using wisdom. Besides, Jesus only did what He heard His Father say and do, so He was being obedient to the instructions He was being given.
obviously there are two things going on.


time line factors also.


it might have been a higher priority to keep people to their own beliefs rather than expose himself for political reasons and/or reasons of faith in testing human beings of their own faith and diligence in scripture study and prayer
It was not supposed to be told until after he fulfilled scripture. He was to come in riding on the ***.


Obviously, once he made the bold true claim about who he was, there would be those who would be out to kill him.





Many had their guesses about who he was. The reason that he asked his disciples the question, ';who do men say that I am?'; was to teach them a lesson and the lesson is as applicable today as ever.


Many through out all time have guessed who God is and where truth is and the only way to know is by revelation of the Father. Peter was blessed to have had it revealed to him of the Father that Jesus was the promised Messiah and the Christ.


Anyone can know truth in the same manner.


Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. They will know Him and He will guide them into truth as long as they keep their mind open and are teachable.


The other lesson in that is that men have their opinions but what is an opinion worth? Especially when it comes to truth about God, what is a guess worth? Even combined with scripture a guess is worth nothing. The Pharisees had scripture, and they had religion, they were trained clergy,and they believed in God, but they did not know who Christ was.


Even with Jesus being right in sight, they could not identify Him without revelation of the Spirit.


All of us are judged equally, whether we lived in his time or not. He did not give anyone undeniable visible proof that He was the Christ unless the people were already humble. It's the only way to make it fair in the end.


I am very very tired and so please forgive the rambling...i'm not going to proof read any of this, too tired...night night all
Jesus wanted to keep his identity secret for a while so he could give them all a big surprise one day when he went to the cross to die.
Jesus knew they needed more teaching to get the whole picture....get a scholar Bible...mine is NRSV life application...EXcellent
I think Jesus was very clear Who He was, God.
In John 16:4 we read this,





';But these things have I told you, that WHEN THE TIME SHALL COME, ye may remember that I told you of them.';





Verses 12-15,





';I have yet MANY THINGS to say unto you, but ye CANNOT bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into ALL TRUTH: for He shall not speak of Himself [Jesus IS this Spirit of Truth]; but whatsoever He shall hear [from His Father], that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father has are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you.';





So why didn鈥檛 the disciples understand these things when Jesus first taught them? Because they weren鈥檛 converted as yet. They did not have the Spirit of God as yet. That is the ONLY way we can ever understand these deep symbolic mysteries of God:





';But God has revealed them unto us BY HIS SPIRIT: for the Spirit searches ALL things, yea, the DEEP things of God'; (I Cor. 2:10)





';But we have the MIND of Christ'; (Verse 16).





I believe we need to beware of those who claim to know God鈥檚 Spiritual Truths, but know preciously little about God鈥檚 Word, the Scriptures. God鈥檚 Spirit never contradicts His Word, but the Church鈥檚 teaching contradicts God鈥檚 Word in hundreds of places.





God has hid these mysteries from the world and even from the Church, I am sad to say. Not that I am the only one to begin understanding these things. There have always been some in every generation that God gave this understanding to. And there are now people scattered around the world that understand these deep mysteries of God and His prophecies for the future, but they are relatively few in number.





Notice Revelation 5:10,





';And has made US unto our God KINGS and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.';





Now Proverbs 25:2,





';It is the glory of God to CONCEAL a thing: but the honour of kings is to SEARCH OUT a matter.';





And so if we are to be kings, it is our honour to ';search out'; these things. You must want it more than anything in the world; more than anything in life, more than life itself! If you want life, you must SACRIFICE your life.