Mark 1:21-27
It is ironic that Jesus was invading the devil’s kingdom by entering and preaching in a Galilean synagogue. If any place would have been the least suspected of being the devil’s throne room it would have been the synagogue at Capernaum. But here a demon possessed man lashed out. He was trying to reveal Jesus’ identity before the appointed time. But Jesus silenced him, and by doing so granted the possessed man mercy.
It might be tempting to question the reasoning for the demon’s tactic. After all, what was to gain? Jesus did come to reveal himself as the Messiah and God in human flesh. He did come to establish the Kingdom of God.
But the devil and his servants understood what was at risk. Jesus mission was to die on a cross. His goal was not to exalt himself and convince others that he was God’s Son. His goal was to humble himself in the form of a servant and die a criminal’s death in his love for us. This is why Jesus silenced the demon and drove him out: to protect his mission and our salvation. Those who knew God would see and learn of Jesus’ true identity soon enough. They would learn the fullness of his mission. But they would not learn until the appointed time, and not until he finished his work on the cross.
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