Frequently after working a miracle Jesus will say something like: “See that you tell no one anything.” (Of course, he is seldom heeded.) At least part of the reason Jesus says that was so that people would not confuse his healings with magic. Religion is about changing oneself to get closer to God. Magic seeks power and control over some person or force outside of oneself. When Jesus worked a healing of the leper he “warns him sternly” to change his life — at other times he says “your faith has saved you.” He did not want to be viewed as waving a magic wand but instead to use these manifestations of divine power as the invitation to live a godly life of forgiveness and charity.
