21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”

25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28 The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.

Mark 1:21-28 - World English Bible

Imagine a verbal dispute between two eighth grade boys. As the arguing heats up, the name calling and taunts pile up, not for their own sake, but in a race to find that one insult that cuts deep, revealing the true character of the one hurt.

The demon in this passage argued like our eighth grade boy. He used a name against Jesus, one that, as it revealed the true identity of the man from Nazareth, would cut deep, throw Jesus off balance and give him a chance to defend himself. Calling his opponent the "Holy One of God" might give him some leverage, since it might shame the divine healer.

Jesus, of course, would have none of that. Like a teacher who confronted a sparring eighth grader, he used his authority to cut the confrontation short with a simple command: shut up and get out.

Notice the reaction of the crowd. They did not praise Jesus for his miracle (the exorcism) but for his teaching. His word had power. The Good News itself freed people from dark forces. It does the same even today.

How has the Good News freed you from the digs and taunts modern living?