And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
This verse comes from an encounter between Jesus and two men possessed by demons, near the region of Gadara on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee (a large lake in northern Israel). The men were so violent that travelers avoided the road near their dwelling. When Jesus arrived, the demons speaking through the men immediately recognized who he was. The phrase "Son of God" is striking because it comes from Jesus' enemies, not his followers, most of whom were still uncertain about his identity. "The appointed time" refers to the demons' awareness that God has set a future moment when evil will be judged and destroyed permanently — and they feared Jesus had come to do it early.
Jesus, even the forces of darkness couldn't deny who you are. Help me not just know that truth in my head but let it change how I live. Where I've been negotiating instead of surrendering, give me the courage to stop. You are Lord over everything — including the parts of me I've been trying to keep for myself. Amen.
It's one of the strangest reversals in the Gospels: while the disciples were still asking "Who is this man?" the demons already knew. They called him Son of God before most of his followers had worked up the courage to say it out loud. And they were terrified. What they shouted wasn't a confession of faith — it was a panic. They recognized power they couldn't resist, and all they could do was try to negotiate a better outcome for themselves. Belief and surrender are not the same thing. You can know exactly who Jesus is — intellectually, theologically, even in your gut — and still spend your life trying to keep him at arm's length. The demons didn't doubt Jesus. They just didn't want him fully in charge. The question worth asking yourself isn't "Do I believe Jesus is who he says he is?" Most of us can answer yes to that. The harder question is: have you stopped negotiating with him about the parts of your life you'd rather manage yourself?
Why is it significant that the demons, not the disciples, were the first to call Jesus "Son of God" in this scene — and what does that tell us about the nature of recognition versus faith?
Is there an area of your life where you believe something about God intellectually but haven't yet let it actually reshape how you live?
The demons acknowledged a future "appointed time" for judgment — meaning evil has a deadline. What does it mean to you personally that darkness doesn't get to go on forever?
Jesus crossed a dangerous stretch of territory to reach these two men everyone else had given up on. How does that change how you see people in your life who seem beyond reach?
What is one thing you might be unconsciously negotiating with God about — holding back rather than fully surrendering — and what would it look like to stop?
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2 Peter 2:4
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jude 1:6
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
John 2:4
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:19
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:3
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Matthew 12:43
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psalms 2:7
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:34
And they screamed out, " What business do we have [in common] with each other, Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the appointed time [of judgment]?"
AMP
And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
ESV
And they cried out, saying, 'What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?'
NASB
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
NIV
And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
NKJV
They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”
NLT
Seeing Jesus, the madmen screamed out, "What business do you have giving us a hard time? You're the Son of God! You weren't supposed to show up here yet!"
MSG