Dealing with Demons: Jesus, the Great Exorcist is a pastoral study of the four exorcism stories in the Gospel of Mark. These reflections were inspired by listening to a seminary professor's inaugural address on this subject nearly fifty years ago. The authority and uniqueness of Jesus as the Son of God are directly related to his power over the demonic.
The exorcism narratives are not just simple miracles but speak to the authenticity of Christ's victory through the cross and resurrection in addressing pressing issues of contemporary existence. These gospel stories offer profound implications for how God defeats evil spirits, which have distorted and perverted God's good creation. Humans are freed from manifestations of the demonic in order to be restored as genuine children of God originally intended in the creation. Jesus is the great exorcist who enables the totally unexpected ecstatic joy that arises from Christ's victory over the demonic.
