As I work through Mark 1, I have noticed that the naming of Jesus by demons has a specific purpose. William Lane alludes to this in his commentary. There is a contrast in how the sick address Jesus and how the demoniac addresses Jesus. The sick refer to Jesus as “Lord,” “Master,” and “Teacher.” While the demoniac address Jesus with precision. Jesus is the “Holy One of Israel.” By addressing him in this manner they are seeking to control him. In the ancient world one way to gain control over your enemy was to know the precise nature and status of your enemy. This is not a mere admission of his divinity–though it is–but it another wilderness testing.
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