Demon Possession

Within popular Greek culture demons were believed to be spirits of the dead assigned the duty of supervising "the cosmos." [REF] As such, they were considered to be gods or goddesses "related especially to magic, to misfortune, and to possession." [REF] The Bible, however, presents a more accurate picture by showing them to be fallen angels under the command of Satan, the one who led them in open rebellion against God (MATTHEW 25:41; II PETER 2:4; REVELATION 12:7–9). Demons harass human beings, created in God's image, in an effort to prevent us from entering into God's kingdom. They are associated with idolatry and witchcraft, as well as many and various destructive behaviors. In casting them out, Jesus proved his superiority over them and the evil they represent.

In casting out demons, Jesus used methods both like and unlike other exorcists of his day. Familiar techniques included:

• A dramatic moment in which Jesus confronted the demon or demon-possessed person.

• The use of standard formulas such as commanding the demon to be quiet, to come out, or to state its name.

• Transferring a demon/demons to another object (e.g., a herd of pigs).

• Performing an exorcism from a distance.

Unfamiliar techniques included:

• Jesus did not use "mechanical devices" to expel a demon.

• Jesus did not pray or call on a "power-authority" outside himself before casting out a demon.

• Jesus did not first "bind" a demon -- e.g., with another, stronger demon -- before casting it out. [REF]

Here it's important to note that the fact of Jesus' casting out demons was never disputed, since both individuals and crowds of people from all walks of life witnessed it firsthand. Rather, the problem had to do with the authority by which Jesus drove out the demons. [REF] The religious leaders, who came into sharp conflict with Jesus, claimed to be God's spokesmen and were revered by the masses as such. To admit that Jesus drove out demons by God's authority would be to admit that he was, at the very least, a true prophet who spoke the truths of God -- truths which condemned the religious leaders as hypocrites and blind guides. And so, rather than admit the true source of Jesus' miraculous power and thus jeopardize their own (false) power and prestige, the religious leaders dismissed Jesus' activities as the work of Satan, the prince of demons.

Modern debates over demon possession often involve depicting the people of Jesus' day as being ignorant and superstitious, seeing a demon behind every bush. [REF] As the instigator of the first sin which destined humankind to centuries of sickness and death, in one sense Satan is responsible for all our ills, be they spiritual, physical, emotional, etc. However, the Bible clearly and repeatedly distinguishes between diseases brought on naturally and those directly attributable to demonic activity. And even today there continue to be countless cases of demonic possession that defy naturalistic explanations.

Put simply, to "heal" is "to make sound or whole." [REF] The NT Greek word (iaomai) can mean either "to heal" or "to save," thus linking together the idea of physical healing and spiritual salvation. [REF] The NT writers actually used two main words for healing. Depending on the context, the most common one (therapeuō) can mean either "to heal" or "to serve," and the other (iaomai) can mean either "to heal" or "to save." [REF] Surely it's no accident that Jesus' miraculous healings thus helped to affirm his primary mission: to serve and to save.

The connection between sin/forgiveness and illness/healing begins in the OT, where God is described as the one who both forgives sins and heals diseases (PSALM 103:3), and where disease and healing are used by Jeremiah to picture "the destruction and subsequent restoration of Jerusalem." [REF] There is a tangible link between repentance, remission of sins, and healing, "so that healing and forgiveness go closely together." [REF] Both in the Old and New Testaments, being restored to health is actually a living picture of being restored to a right relationship with God.

Often we see Jesus telling a person that his or her faith has healed them. Contra health and wealth teaching, the faith that Jesus demands "is not a belief in the credibility of the miracles but faith in Jesus himself," which is why healing is so closely linked with salvation. [REF] Sometimes Jesus healed in response to a person's faith, but frequently where there was no faith the healings were intended to instill saving faith -- i.e., "belief in Jesus as the Son of God." [REF]

Jesus' miraculous healings helped to teach about: faith; Jesus' compassion; the need to break down social barriers; the true intent of God's laws; sin; and Jesus as the promised Messiah. [REF] Jesus' miracles declared 1) that God is concerned about people and especially those on the forgotten fringes of society, and 2) that Jesus alone is the source of God's saving power. [REF]

The miraculous healings noted in the Bible were intended as much more than temporary relief from physical discomfort -- a truth that bears heavily on such healings today. The healings in the Bible were designed both to authenticate and to illustrate the word of the person performing them. Hence the healings were more theological than medical. Hence in regards to contemporary healings,

Modern day healings are a controversial topic. While we should avoid trying to place limits on the power of God, it behooves us to keep in mind that many seemingly miraculous healings can be traced to the mind's power to heal the body. While God created our wondrous bodies and thus deserves the ultimate credit for any and all healing, there are several distinguishing marks of truly miraculous healings:

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