Why did Jesus not want to be known as the Messiah?

Jesus, when talking to his disciples in [Matthew 16](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016&version=NIV) specifically instructed them not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. [Matthew 16:20 (NIV)](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:20&version=NIV) >Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Why did he do this? Do we know his purpose in hiding this fact from everyone? Is there any doctrinal relevancy or importance to this request of Jesus? Additional passages similar to this include [Mark 1:43-44](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1%3A43-44&version=NIV) , [Mark 7:36](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+7%3A36&version=NIV) , and [Matthew 9:30](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9%3A30&version=NIV) .