and he said, “Leave us alone. What is there between us and you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are: the Holy One of God.”
This cry reveals the demons’ recognition of the person of Christ. People often did not understand who Jesus was, but the powers of darkness recognized his holiness and authority with terror. The title “the Holy One of God” is true, yet it comes not from faith and worship, but from fear and opposition. The demons knew that Christ’s coming meant the limiting of their power and the beginning of the final judgment. This verse shows that knowledge alone is not enough: even evil spirits know, but they do not obey. Saving faith requires not only recognition, but also a loving and obedient acceptance.