He [the man] screamed, "Ho! What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to. You're the Holy One of God and you've come to destroy us."
Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The demonic spirit threw the man down in front of them and left. The demon didn't hurt him.Consistently, Jesus tells the demons to be quiet, even though they, unlike the Pharisees and others, are speaking truth about his identity. I've often wondered why we're not to hear their testimony.
Though they speak truth, demons are clearly mocking of God and want to lead us to mock him as well. Proverbs 9 has something to say about this:
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God, insight into life from knowing a Holy God.One might argue that demons are certainly skilled in their agenda and have a fear of God. The insight that drives their agenda comes from knowing a Holy God. They have, after all, been in his very presence. But what they do with their skill and insight becomes the mockery of God. We are called to move in a very different direction as we find out who is speaking:
It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen. Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life; mock life and life will mock you.When we search out Jesus, we want our source to be Lady Wisdom set in Fear-of-God insight. While others mock, we can rest in our intent to learn wisdom and live our years ripening in knowing the Holy One.
No need to keep quiet.
An absence of mockery; an abundance of life.
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