Mark 1:32-34 “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.”

The whole town showed up. If they came, Jesus healed them. He didn’t limit himself to standard office hours, though he had already put in a full day. As long as people kept coming, he kept serving. Take note the next time you wonder if you are good enough to come to him, or if you have come too often, or if you can come right now. If you come, he serves you. He wants you to know that about him.

In fact, he had a grave concern that the people who were coming to him would know him truly. It may seem strange to us at first that he would not let the demons speak when he threw them out. “They knew who he was,” Mark tells us. Apparently they were trying to identify him on their way out. But Jesus wouldn’t let them do it. He wanted people to know who he was, but not this way.

I don’t think it is hard to understand why. Later in his ministry Jesus called the devil the father of lies. The very first temptation into the very first sin that plunged the human race into death and hell was all about lies and half-truths. He isn’t a reliable witness.

About 10 years ago Jim Carey was in a movie called Liar, Liar. He is a lawyer, and his son makes a wish that, for a whole day, his dad can’t tell any lies. The wish comes true. In many scenes telling the truth gets him into trouble. But in one scene in which he is asked what he thinks of his colleagues, his past lying leads everyone to think he is merely being funny when he tells them what he thinks.

Maybe you have heard of “paltering.” It is telling the truth in order to deceive. Salespeople do it. Politicians do it. You carefully choose the truths you express to give someone the wrong impression. A potential client asks you, “Do you think your sales will grow next year?” You answer, “Our sales have grown consistently the last ten years.” It may be true, but it hides the fact you do not expect growth in the year to come.

So the devils are clever. They couldn’t resist Jesus power to throw them out. They knew that this would lead people to believe his power came from God. But they also knew anything they said would be questioned by the people. So they tell the truth, or at least they try to, in order to deceive. Their well-known reputation for lying would help to cast a cloud of doubt over Jesus true identity.

That’s why Jesus won’t let them speak for them. He doesn’t want their witness. He lets his power and love do all the talking so that we can know him as God and Savior.