sentences:  According to this theory, the author of Mark's gospel had invented the idea of the "Messianic Secret", whereby Jesus attempted to hide his identity, and only revealed it to a very few insiders.Conservative interpreters of Mark's gospel, exemplified by William Sanday and Albert Schweitzer, believed instead that Mark's portrayal of Jesus was largely historical.Scholarship was strictly divided for a time, with neither side considering the other's views at all valid.