He ordered his disciples NOT to tell anyone that he was the Messiah

[tonychanyt]

Horizontally, the Jews understood the concept of the coming Messiah as a figure like David. He would be a military warrior and king geopolitically. This figure was illegal according to Roman law. Vertically, Jesus presented himself as the Messiah of the spiritual Kingdom of God. When he comes again, then he will fulfill the horizontal part of the Messianic function. The Jews did not want to understand this difference.

NIV John 10:

24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Tell us that you were the warrior king, the Messiah against the rule of Rome.

25a Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe.

I told you already that I was bringing in the spiritual Kingdom of God. Repent and believe. But they didn't want it. They wanted a leader to fight the Romans.

Later, Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah in Matthew 16:

20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

The Jews understood the term Messiah differently. It would promote misunderstanding by using the term.

They arrested Jesus in Luke 22:

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

I.e., Are you the warrior-king Messiah?

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me."

You will not believe that I came to establish the spiritual Kingdom of God and not to fight against the Romans.

They sent Jesus to Pilate in (BSB) John 18:

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Jesus clarified the concept of Messiah to Pilate, and he understood even though the Jews did not.

Why did Jesus order his disciples not to tell anyone he was the Messiah?

The Jews understood the Messiah as a political king. Jesus wasn't. To avoid this misunderstanding, he ordered them.

John 6:

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Jesus wanted to avoid the above scenario being repeated over and over again.

After his death and resurrection, the disciples were free to proclaim that he was the promised Messiah. Jesus was no longer physically available to them to push him to be king.