When Jesus met demons in crowd settings, they would typically cry out that he was the “Son of God”. But in direct confrontations, they always said, “What do you want with me/us?”. Ever wonder why that was their response? Was it just curiosity?

• Demon in the synagogue:
  • “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?“ – Mk 1:24
  • “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? – Lk 4:34
• Legion of demons at Gerasenes:
  • “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” – Mt 8:29
  • He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” – Mk 5:7
  • When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” – Lk 8:28

The phrase is a Semitic idiom (Hebrew and Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke) that means something like What are you doing here!? You’re operating outside your authority! So you can hear the demons even appealing to God’s name for Jesus not to torture them because it’s not the appointed time.

Jesus uses the same idiom when his mom tries to get him to do a miracle before the appointed time. It’s translated differently, but the Greek is exactly the same. Like, you’re outside your scope. You’re talking outside your authority. You have no jurisdiction in this area.

• “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” – Jn 2:4

The phrase is the same in Hebrew, and is used in the Old Testament when people tried to operate outside their scope of authority. Like these:

• When the Ammonites were rebuked for overstepping: Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?” – Judges 11:12
• When Abishai wanted to kill Shimei: But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” – 2 Sam 16:10
• When the corrupt northern king wants Elisha’s help: Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” – 2 Kings 3:13
• When King Josiah tried to stop a Pharaoh from doing what God told him to do: But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.” – 2 Chron 35:21

The Bible consistently says that evil spiritual beings, like the rest of creation, can only operate within the bounds that God assigns them. The demons had their assigned jurisdiction, from God. So they’re tell Jesus this is not his turf, at least, not yet. This is their defence in each case. They don’t realize the regime change has happened and they’re losing their place.

So now, the opposite is true. It’s us saying to the demons in Jesus’ name: “What are you doing here!? Jesus is King!”