Jesus has performed several healings. and done some scripture interpretation. He has begun to draw crowds. The religious authorities are not pleased with him.
He leaves town and with his disciples withdraws to the lakeside. Withdraws but not to a retreat. A huge crowd follows him. It's a diverse crowd from a large geographical area. Those with diseases crowd around him wanting to be healed by his touch.
They believe that he can cure their diseases. But, the unclean spirits know more. They recognize him as the Son of God. Jesus instructs them not to tell anyone.
Why this what has come to be called the messianic secret? Boring and Craddock, in their People's New Testament Commentary, point out that the Gospel of Mark is divided into two sections. The first describes Jesus as the Son of God, doing what only God can do. But onlookers don't recognize his true identity. The second half describes the journey toward cross. Jesus is human and vulnerable. But, Jesus' true identity is revealed in the crucifixion and resurrection.
Jesus goes up on the mountain. Morna Hooker, in her commentary, The Gospel according to Saint Mark, explains:
The mountain is a normal setting in biblical narratives for divine activity and revelation (cf Exodus 3; 1 Kings 19; Mark 9), but in this case it reminds us in particular of the creation of the nation of Israel in Exodus 19-20.
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