Home > Jesus is God in Mark's Gospel
Demons fall before Him crying, "You are the Son of God". In the ancient world, knowing someone's name was thought to give you power over them. The demons were "shouting His name" as a desperate defensive tactic—a spiritual counter-attack. Jesus’ command for them to be silent shows His total sovereignty over the supernatural realm. The reaction of the evil spirits to the person of Jesus is best explained by their knowledge of who Jesus was and what he represented for their kingdom—the end! Also in ancient thought, only a superior spiritual power could command the demonic realm.
Mark 3:11–12 - And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
The verse in Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1-4 to show that the Messiah was not looking for public adoration, attention and certainly not that of demons. He valued intimacy with the Father.
Matthew 12:15–21 - Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break,and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
The Greek word for "fell down" (prosepipton) implies a forced submission. Even the enemies of God cannot stand in the presence of His incarnate nature. He does not employ either evil spirits or the unfallen ones (angels) as witnesses.