Psyops in the Gospels

The gospels see a large increase in demonic activity around Israel as Jesus’ public ministry begins. He famously quotes Isaiah 61:1–2, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,” Let’s examine the four major exorcisms found in the gospels.

An Exorcism in the Capernaum Synagogue

Mark 1:21–28 “Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.” see (Luke 4:31–37)

Jesus is teaching in the synagogue and interestingly there was a demon possessed man in the synagogue. They shouldn’t have knowingly allowed him there. Quite probably he was there acting perfectly normal, but Jesus triggered him.

The same teaching that astonished some, perfectly offended the demon and he reacted. He was minding his business dwelling in a man who was spending time listening to preaching in the synagogue. A strange place for a demon to hang out. One wonders what his mission was? Was it to sow doubt, mischief, division? Whatever his mission was it was quickly interrupted by Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t answer the demons two questions, He simply orders the demon to be quiet and to come out. No big confrontation, no incantations, just a matter-of-fact command - “come out”.

A few thoughts:

There was a demon possessed man among the men in the synagogue. Probably acting normal and unremarkable.

He was there on a mission of sorts. Demons hanging around in a religious setting?!?

Demons are not actively harassing when they can do their works under cover.

Don’t be surprised to find demon activity among the spiritual, that is their main enemy. They don’t need to bother the self-righteous.

Jesus’ words caused men to be astonished and the demon to react in the opposite way.

From the start of His ministry Jesus had to exercise dominion, He still does. Demons came out of the woodwork to try to stop the plan of God.

The Demoniac Named Legion

Matt 8:28–34 ; Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39 Describes the second episode with demon possession in the Gospels. Only here in this instance did Jesus speak with the demon and actually grant its request. Mark 5 describes the demoniac as dwelling among tombs, being incredibly strong, and breaking chains, crying out and cutting himself. He was totally ostracized by others. His inner man and the outer man were corrupted by the demons. In fact it was a legion of demons, a Roman legion being 6,000 troops. An army of demons were tormenting this soul.

Angels are also assembled as legions Matthew 26:53 “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” 12x6,000=72,000 angels!

A tortured soul, with no hope, was living alone among the tombs outside of society and abandoned.

Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the unbeliever is open to having a demon invade his body like we see here. Demon possession is only possible for an unbeliever. Demon influence however is possible and even likely for anyone. Through devilish “psyops” demons seek to influence men and women by words, images, suggestions, and the appeal to our lusts. For the believer it is from without. For the demoniac it is from within and unescapable without divine help.

Jesus easily defeats this army of demons with a single word. They end up drowning in the sea. Later in Mark 5:15 we read, “Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.”

The man whom was abandoned alone, corrupt in the inner and outer man was whole. He was sitting, not agitated. He was clothed, his outer man was covered and normal. And he was in his right mind, a totally redeemed man.

The long term result of this healing was that the man became a missionary. He was sent to his hometown to describe the marvelous work Jesus had performed. He ended up going to the Decapolis and spread the news. Mark 5:20 “And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”

The true nature of the man was not a raving lunatic, but a fervent missionary. It took 6,000 demons to sidetrack him. What is the lesson for us? Don’t judge the man by the demon, in fact he might become a mighty man of God!

Exorcism of the Syro-phoenician Woman’s Daughter

Matt 15:21–28; Mark 7:24–30

A mother’s faith. This exorcism is unique because it was done at a distance. The mother here is a gentile, but she knew the promises given to David and Abraham. Her lesson to us is that she had 1. great faith and 2. she persisted even when Jesus discouraged her.

She starts by saying in Matthew 15:22 “And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”” She calls Jesus by His covenant name as the Son of David, The King who is the Messiah!

Next she brings in the Abrahamic Covenant in Mark 7:28 “And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”” She is correct in pointing out that through Israel all families of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:3). She is knowledgable and persistent and Jesus honors her by healing her daughter before he sends her home.

Ephesians 6:18-20 intercession changes things from afar. Family in another state, missionaries on the foreign field, politicians in Washington, pray persistently for God to cast out those demons!

Exorcism of a Father’s Deaf-Mute Boy

Matt 17:14–20; Mark 9:14–29; Luke 9:37–43

We looked at a mother’s faith in the freeing of her daughter from a demon, now the Gospels look at a father’s faith. Mk 9:17 tells of a father with a son who is a deaf mute because of a demon. He is pleading with Jesus’ disciples for help, but they are unable to help.

Is Jesus a little frustrated with His disciples in Mark 9:19 when He said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”?

The father explains to Jesus the situation in Mark 9:22 “And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” He says, “if You can do anything”. That is statement of faith, albeit rather small.

Jesus challenges the father’s faith in verse :23 “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”” He answers the father’s “if you can” with a royal, ‘if you can”.

It was a faith, but mixed with unbelief. Mark 9:24 “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!””

Matthew goes on to answer the disciples question in Matthew 17:19–21 “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.””

Prayer and fasting means a total belief that it is God who will do the things we ask Him. Satan looks really big sometimes, his “psyops” can overwhelm the best disciples. Know that it is God who defeats him. And He delights in answering the prayers of his children.

The Spirit of Infirmity

Luke 13:10–12 “10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.””

Luke 13:13–17 “13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.”

Lessons

Jesus coming into the world brings conflict with the demonic world. Jesus had many confrontations with the demonic. He always won.

Demons can take over the body and voice of an unbeliever. Demons have supernatural knowledge of Jesus and the Gospel writers describe it can be accurate information. Sometimes a little truth mixed with Devilish “psyops” makes it more believable.

In the story of the Gadarene demoniac:

Demons can increase the strength of a person

Many and different demons can occupy someone at the same time

Demons are territorial

They can go from one to another (sweep house Mt 12:43-45) Not the norm in Jesus’ experience. casts out once for all.

Demons will resist leaving and cause a ruckus.

Jesus commanded authority over demons, gave that to His disciples and recognized that prayer and fasting was needed to effect an exorcism. Prayer of parents illustrated this point.