Christ's Dominion Over Demons

Jesus Casts Out the Devils
Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
Engraving
1860
Illustration for The Picture Bible
Public Domain

Christ Healing the Man Possessed by Devils
Johannes Wierix
1585
Colored engraving
Public Domain

“Legion” from the album Who Do You Say I Am?
Composer/Performer: Ryan J. Miller

Chains in the Graveyard from the album Signs & Wonders
Composer: Luke Knowles
Performers: Lyre Lyre Souls on Fire

Poetry

“The Demons”
by Alexander Pushkin, translated by Irina Henderson

Clouds are whirling, clouds are swirling;
Though invisible, the moon
Lights the flying snow while blurring
Turbid sky and nigh in one.
On and on through broad expanses;
Sleigh-bell tinkling—din-din-din…
Casting fearful, fearful glances
At the dark and eerie plain!

“Driver, hey there!….” “Can’t go faster:
Drifts have blown across the roads
Heavy for the horses, master,
And my lids together glued;
For the life of me, beside us,
Tracks are nowhere to be found;
It must be a demon guides us,
As he circles round and round.

“Over there: see him cavorting,
Blowing, spitting in my face;
Look—and now the horse is snorting
On the edge of the abyss;
Like some verst-pole without substance
He stood out against the dark;
Then he flashed across the darkness,
Disappearing like a spark.”

Clouds are whirling, clouds are swirling;
Though invisible, the moon
Lights the flying snow while blurring
Turbid sky and nigh in one.
No more strength to circle, barely;
Silent falls the little bell;
“What pulls up the horses?”—”Surely—
Stump or wolf? But who can tell?”

Raging blizzards, weeping, blowing;
Horses snorting in their fear;
See his eyes distinctly glowing,
As he capers over there;
Now the horses speed in frenzy;
Sleigh-bell tinkling—din-din-din…
I can see a spirits’ medley
Gather on the glimmering plain.

Endless, hideous hordes are pressing
Round us, in the moon’s dull light,
Demons whirling, flying, massing,
Like November leaves in flight.
Crowds of them! Where do they hurry?
Why so pitiful their song?
Goblin do they haste to bury?
Witch to wed they bring along?

Clouds are whirling, clouds are swirling;
Though invisible, the moon
Lights the flying snow while blurring
Turbid sky and nigh in one.
Swarm on swarm, the demons flying
Sweep the sky in endless quest,
Till their piteous screams and crying
Rend the heart within my breast…

Week 3 Introduction: Jesus on the Move: Confronting Demons, Disease & Death

The gospel of Matthew is known for its substantial Christological discourses. John’s gospel also has extended passages that contain lengthy teachings of the Savior. Interestingly, Mark doesn’t spend much time on dialogue in his gospel. Instead, his fast-paced narrative focuses on Christ’s amazing actions. Every action Jesus performed was done with divine authority and power. This sovereign authority over all things was foundational to His mission and ministry. All who encountered Him knew there was something extraordinary going on—something that transcended the expected, routine ways of operating in the world. Much like the Old Testament prophet Moses, who dominates the pages of the Pentateuch, Christ is presented by Mark as the great lawgiver, prophet, sustainer, and deliverer of the New Testament.

Mark wanted his readers to experience a zealous Christ, a Christ on the go with holy fire in His soul: forgiving sins, healing the sick, casting out demonic spirits, calming storm-tossed seas, restoring life to the dead, feeding the hungry masses, etc. Mark’s passionate account introduced Christ as the new King who is in the process of bringing God’s new kingdom into being. Dr. William Hendrikson notes in his New Testament commentary, “Mark portrays Christ as an active, energetic, swiftly moving, warring, conquering King, a Victor over the destructive forces of nature, over disease, demons and even death . . . Mark pictures a King who excels any earthly conqueror. His kingdom is far more extensive, his armor far more effective, and his rule far more enduring than anything originating here below.” Indeed, Mark paints a graphic portrait of Christ, not only as the ultimate superhero, but as we shall see in weeks to come, as the counterintuitive, suffering, servant King.

Sitting, Clothed, and in his Right Mind

One day, while on a multi-day hike in Europe, my students and I came across a field of flowering coriander. Our road continued, winding down the hill, but we were tired after the miles of walking. Careful not to trample any plants, we followed a water gully deep into the field. Sitting down on the side of the gully, we leaned back. Sunshine fell on the feathery leaves and white blooms of the coriander. Above our heads, stillness reigned, except for the hum of the bees that joyfully worked while we rested. This time stands out in my memory, marked by peace, a spirit of happy fellowship, and the words of an old hymn that we had been memorizing together.

In stark contrast, Mark’s story of the man with the unclean spirits gives us a person marked by pain, loneliness, and madness. The man roams among the tombs, sleeping near the bones of the dead. His mind is dazed and unclear, and he is naked, alone, crying out in restless anguish, and engaging in violent acts of self-harm. The artwork, poetry, and music for today portray the demon-possessed man in all his torment. In the engravings by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld and Johannes Wierix, he is physically contorted, harassed, and unaware of his surroundings. In his song “Legion,” Ryan J. Miller emphasizes the state of this man, one who dwelt “in the land of despair” with “no house, no clothes, just pain to bear; alone in the darkness he wandered there.” Pushkin’s stanzas describe the demons’ disquiet, screams, and cries in terms that mirror the man’s own. But then Jesus steps into the man’s inward and outward chaos.

Mark’s short phrase, “sitting and clothed and in his right mind,” has often brought me close to tears. It conveys the man’s complete transformation. Instead of aimless running, he is sitting; instead of being naked, he is clothed; instead of a tortured turmoil, peace governs his mind, soul, and body. What relief he must have felt. No wonder he longs to remain with Jesus, the one who set him free, and pleads that he will not be sent away. In obedience, however, he departs so that he may carry the message of God’s compassion. Although Mark ends his story here, I have no doubt that the man loved Jesus throughout the rest of his life and never tired of relating the story of his incredible deliverance.

In the same way that Jesus drove out the demons and brought back sanity and rest, in the same way that He calmed the tumult of the sea, so also, He can silence the storms we face, both those within ourselves and those that rage without. Even when He allows the storms in our lives to continue, His promise remains that “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (Jn 14:27). This peace is what made my moments in the coriander field a gift that has remained with me ever since. May I walk in the recollection of Christ’s much greater peace all my life, recounting with joy the story that every believer can tell, of the Lord’s compassion and the great things He has done for us.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you that through Your death, You destroyed the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and that You set us free, who through fear of death were all our lives subject to slavery (Heb. 2:14-15). Please fulfill Your promise to keep us in perfect peace, because our minds are stayed on You and we trust in You (Isa. 26:3).

Dr. Laurie Wilson
Associate Professor, Torrey Honors College
Biola University