Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 3:12

"And he charged them much that they should not make him known." — Mark 3:12 (ASV)

Again Jesus came into conflict with the demonic. The evil spirits recognized who Jesus was—even if the crowds did not. By crying out “You are the Son of God,” they were trying to control him and neutralize his power (in Bible times, knowledge of a person’s name conferred power over that person). “Son of God” is a true designation of who Jesus is. Jesus silenced the outcries of the demons because the time for the clear revelation of who he was had not yet come.