When the characters in the text accepted Jesus as he presented himself, Mark showed that Jesus wanted his message to be spread. When they were antagonistic or misunderstood the true nature of Jesus’ message, Mark portrayed Jesus warning or ordering the audience not to do anything that would create an incorrect public impression. Why would Jesus behave in such a manner? A social-science approach to first-century culture suggests two answers. First, as a general rule, a person did not want to give