In the previous episode, we discussed the “Truth about the Power of Demons.” They have no power because, as the term “demon” represents, demons aren’t gods. The concept of demons grew out of the falsehood of idol worship. So, the only power a demon has is the power of misunderstanding and superstition. Idolators give power to false gods because their cultures accept and worship these concepts.
In the same way, people have been taught that demons have power in their cultures and religions. There is no God or power besides the one who has been given all power and authority – Jesus Christ. Have faith in the power of Jesus Christ alone, and you’ll see that everything and anything is powerless before him.
But you’ll say, “Demons are in the Bible.” Yes, demons are mentioned in the Bible, but let’s examine why. In the *first century, even brilliant and educated people thought there were four causes for medical or behavioral problems. One of the causes for medical or behavioral issues was a Moral or character weakness or sin, causing a lack of self-control – overindulgence of any kind – drinking, eating, sex, and violence. Another cause, they thought, was a Lack of discipline, causing an unruly life – addictions, laziness, homelessness, inability to hold a job, failure to read or learn. A third cause was a Humor (Latin for liquid – bodily fluids) imbalance in blood, urine, stool, and phlegm – causing depression and emotional disorders. Finally, there were Supernatural Origins, like gods, demons, curses, or fate. Everyone believed this: Romans, Greeks, Jews, Egyptians, everyone.
This is what people believed at the time of Christ. What was Jesus going to do? Was he going to teach them modern medicine? No, he didn’t come into the world to teach medicine. His mission wasn’t to heal the world of diseases. It was to save the lost. As Jesus taught, he often met people where they were, working within their existing beliefs and understandings to bring healing to their expectations about God and bringing forgiveness and salvation to light. He didn’t directly correct their misconceptions because his mission was faith, not knowledge. Let me show you what I mean:
The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). This woman believed that if she could touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Instead of correcting her belief that touching His garment had power, He honored her faith and healed her. He later told her, “Your faith has saved you,” shifting the focus from superstition to faith.
The Centurion’s Servant healed (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). The Roman centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant simply by speaking a word without needing to be physically present. Jesus didn’t challenge his understanding of authority, which likened Jesus’ power to the centurion’s command over his soldiers. Instead, Jesus marveled at the man’s faith and healed the servant remotely, affirming the centurion’s framework of belief.
The Canaanite Woman’s Daughter (Matthew 15:21-28). The Canaanite woman believed Jesus could cast a demon out of her daughter. Even when Jesus initially responded by saying He was sent only to Israel and used the metaphor of children’s bread and dogs, the woman persisted, expressing her faith in His power to help even her. Instead of teaching her about God’s broader theological plan, Jesus honored her faith and healed her daughter.
The Healing of the Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26). The friends of the paralyzed man believed that physical healing was the man’s greatest need, going to great lengths to lower him through the roof to get to Jesus. While addressing man’s more profound spiritual need by forgiving his sins, Jesus also healed his body to demonstrate His authority to forgive sins. Jesus worked within their belief in His power to heal and reveal a more profound truth about His mission – faith to be forgiven and be saved.
Many in Jesus’ time believed in demon possession as a cause for various ailments, including mental and physical disorders. Like those healed of illnesses, Jesus didn’t challenge their cultural teaching. He met people in their beliefs and showed His authority over any perceived spiritual realm so he could lead them to faith. The Samaritan Woman at the Well in John 4:7-26 was a great example of this principle at work. She had misconceptions about worship and the coming of the Messiah. Jesus engaged her within her existing understanding of worship and the Messiah. Gradually, He revealed that He was the Messiah and taught her that true worship was faith in God’s Son.
In each of these examples, Jesus chose not to confront misconceptions directly but to work within people’s existing cultural beliefs and shifted their focus to faith in Him and His authority rather than a systematic theological doctrine. He honored their faith, however imperfect, and used their trust as a bridge to bring healing and more profound understanding to them. His approach reflected His compassion and wisdom, acknowledging that transformation starts where people are, with the knowledge and faith they already possess.
The Gospels and the Book of Acts have 14 specific references to the casting out of demons. Does this mean Jesus and the Disciples agreed that demons had powers? No, and I’ll show you why. I assembled a map of the 14 demon possession incidents mentioned in the Bible and an Exorcism Map. Suppose we start at the top of the map we have recorded in Matthew and Mark an exorcism in Tyre, Syria today, of the daughter of a Canaanite woman [not a Jew] who was oppressed by a demon. Then we move slightly Southeast to Caesarea Philippi, where Matthew, Mark, and Luke record Jesus casting the demon out of a seizure boy. Interestingly, the disciples could not cast this demon out of the boy.
Roman, Greek, Palestinian, you name the god, and they were worshipped at Mt Hermon. When Peter acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus said that he would build his church on this truth and that the “Gates of Hell” would not prevail against it. They were in Caesarea Philippi and could see Mt Hermon as he spoke to them. This area was rife with superstitions about demons because of the proximity to Mt Hermon. The disciples couldn’t cast the “demons” from the boy partially because the area influenced them, and maybe the people didn’t believe they were more powerful than the demons. But they did believe Jesus was more powerful. Now, let’s move further south to Galilee, Capernaum, and Gennesaret. Nine demon possession incidents are recorded between Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
People who were brought to Jesus in this area were “troubled” (whatever that meant) by evil spirits, couldn’t speak, demons blinded them, and some suffered oppression by multiple demons. And Jesus healed them. The Apostles performed three exorcisms, one each in Ephesus, Samaria, and Philippi.
We need to note that none of these demon possessions happened in Judea. Jews lived in all these areas, but only Judea followed the strictest Jewish customs and traditions. Rome controlled Judea, but when it came to their religious practices, Rome gave them autonomy. This entire area on the map was under the authority of Herod’s family. Julius Caesar gave Herod the Great this position, and Rome allowed the family to rule as allies. Herod wasn’t Jewish and his family didn’t follow any religion, instead they permitted any and every religious practice in the territories they ruled.
So again, we see Jesus meeting the people where they were in their beliefs. Jesus didn’t come into the world to teach people about false gods, angels, and demons. He came into the world to save it by declaring the good news of salvation, and everyone who believes the good news is saved through faith.
When Jesus read the scroll in the synagogue, he read from Isaiah 61:1-2 and said to those listening. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And when he finished reading, he said, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” The word “listen” in Greek is “hear with their ears” which is code for those who have “faith.” As those listening to him believed, that passage from Isaiah was fulfilled.
John the Baptist said that Jesus was “the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” How is the sin removed from us? Through faith in God’s Son, who gave his life for us. Jesus would die; he knew that was his mission from the beginning. But until that day, his ministry was to show the world his power and the authority God gave him so they could believe and be saved. Everything he did was to plant the seeds of faith in the hearts and minds of people. He met everyone, regardless of their backgrounds, traditions, theologies, or superstitions, where they were. Not to change their minds about what they were taught about sickness and demons but to lead them to have faith in him so they could be freed from guilt and the fear of death by receiving forgiveness and salvation through God’s grace.
I’m not trying to convince you one way or the other about whether there are or aren’t demons. Demons, Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, the serpent, or the dragon have no power against Jesus Christ. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, then by the power and authority given to him by his father, these so-called evil entities are meaningless because, whether real or fake, they’re powerless in the kingdom of God. In the fallen world, they may have power, but they are powerless in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Where do you live today? Under the rule of mankind or the kingdom of God?
