Demonic fear

23 starts with another euthus. There is an interesting expression the demon uses- what is there to us (= ours) and (at the same time) to you (= yours) ie, “what have we in common?” What have we to do with you? what do you want with us
I've never really thought that much about this before- here we have (in Mark at least) the first instance (apart from the temptation in the desert where Mark doesn't tell us what was said, the demonic side of things/ reaction to what Jesus is doing- And its a pretty wary stance- which seems to guess at the end game to a degree- but can't see that clearly. “What have we to do with you- what do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Something like- what is he doing here? in a domain we have had free run in pretty well,- like something out of a gangster movie or a new boy in the playground who comes with a bigger reputation than the current big boy. “Have you come to destroy us? - It knows and fears the power before it- And perhaps this is a reasonable guess as far as it goes- How does the demonic realm work? What we're the whisperings in the ranks about Jesus- what were the directives from higher up?
“I know who you are, the holy one of God.” Somehow trying to upset the applecart here (don't think I've ever written that before in my life- must be a sign of being 35- as you get older you are inexorably drawn to time honoured cliches and sayings that you never would have dreamed of when you were sensible and younger). Jesus seems to be flying under the radar- we don't know why- but we know he's dangerous so we'll try and expose him, - And why this particular expression- the holy one of God? Interesting testimony from the other side- is this like a kid saying that someone else is the teachers pet? I assume the demon was once an Angel- can it remember Jesus beside the Father? Does the have you come to destroy us, show glimpses of remembered fear of being cast from heaven and the son's part in this (did he have a part? Is it Michael Archangel in Ezekiel- or somewhere else)
There must be rules of engagement- or parameters that the Fathers sustaining power allows demons and satan to operate in but not exceed- just killing Jesus at will because he has turned up is not an option – at least the timing is not- though such a desire strangely conincided with the Father's purposes- and Jesus had a very finely nuanced understanding of his 'time'.
The interplay between human and divine or spiritual is pretty hazy to me- somehow when we die we become more of both, while here we struggle to get a handle on either end of the stick. In the Solomon islands Malcolm has prayed and someone has come back to life- and there is a far greater predominance it seems of notable crossover between the realms- here the realms are just as real- but much more opaque for the majority of people- I think I miss this reality- and am suspicious of people who seem too give it to much attention- seeing the devil under every rock. I imagine there's a middle ground.
It would seem the demon has got fairly close to the money- Jesus response is swift (he couldn't stop it before it happened it seems- he still has to react in full view of everyone- not Jesus in the pope mobile smiling serenely behind bullet proof glass- and so much more masterful because of this). Two imperatives (fimwtheti and exelthe) Be quiet and exit or come out of him. Both aorist, signifying once off action. The unclean spirit convulses him (sparaxan- wonder if spastic coming from this root?) calls out with a loud cry, and comes out of him. I think this is one of the areas where hearing this story often, innoculates you to the shock value it should have. I have never actually seen something similar- and I think it would leave a fair impression if I had. What did that great/ loud cry sound like? and it comes after an exchange that probably would break most social conventions. The crowds do not seem to be particularly surprised about a man with an unclean spirit- no mention along those lines- so there's a big difference with Australia, but what leaves its mark is the manner of its leaving- ethambethesan- amazed – bdag has , to be extraordinarily impressed or disturbed by something intr- wonder, marvel, be astonished (the context determines in a good or bad sense). - it led to that hushed murmur of a crowd when something fantastic has happened and you are impelled to turn to the person next to you even if you don't know him and say , mate you don't see that every day- what do you make of it? It's not how we've heard things before- and then the actions that go along with it- I've seen plenty of people with unclean spirits but someone who commands them and they obey...
And not surprisingly, most people who were there had something to talk about in their upcoming social exchanges for the next few weeks.
Again, it is the authority that impresses them- like me trying to tell (ask) a dissenting year 8 student to pick up a paper from the floor- the lack of authority is very apparent- and the worse the kid, the more remarkable it is if he does it.