Mark 9:14-29: Lord of the demons

We have been looking at representative miracles that address different aspects of reality: death, physical healing, and Christ’s power over creation. Here, we arrive at Christ’s power over the demons. I actually don’t need to say a word for this to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The account is all you need. Let’s walk through the account looking at the reality of the demons, the impact of the demons, and the Lord of the demons.

The reality of the demons

A dad brings his son to Jesus and immediately starts telling Jesus what is going on with his son. “[He is] possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid” (Mark 9:17-18).

Some of you might be thinking, That sounds a lot like epilepsy. And it does sound a lot like a seizure. Convulsion? Check. Gnashing teeth? Check. Becoming rigid? Check. But it can’t be. The boy convulsed when he was brought to Jesus. Jesus doesn’t give people epilepsy. And let’s be clear. Epilepsy doesn’t show obvious murderous intent. This condition did. Why was the boy often thrown into fire and water? There was intelligence and personality and intent. This wasn’t epilepsy. This was a demon.

That brings us to this: There is a physical world, and there is a spiritual world. We humans straddle both. That’s what makes us the crown of God’s creation. We are bodies, and we are souls. We are both. Animals are only biological. Angels are only spiritual. We alone have our feet planted in both realms. Here is what that means: We are deeply affected by both worlds.

This is our chance to take that in. Often, we don’t think much about demons, and we don’t think much of demons. Did you catch my two meanings there? I’m not sure we read the headlines or experience something in our lives and think, A demon was likely in on that.

But the Bible points explicitly in that direction. For example, the Bible says that food and drink offered to idols are actually being offered to demons (see 1 Corinthians 10:20). Isn’t that something? Idols aren’t just wood. There’s a power behind them. Is it possible that’s why money can feel so cold to us sometimes? It can be an idol for us. That’s how it was for Judas.

Moreover, we know that demons can be behind politics (see Daniel chapter 10). Paul says our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorities and powers of this dark world (Ephesians 6:12).

I don’t relish telling you that, but it’s vital we know it. We do want to minister correctly. None of us wants to be the person who says to someone with epilepsy, “Praying with your pastor is the only right fix.” The Lord has given us doctors and good medicine too. But none of us would ever want to say to this particular dad, “Get him to the doctor so he can get the right medications,” either. What that boy needed was an exorcism.

The impact of the demons

Look at what the spirit did to this boy. The boy was mute, which means that the demon had the power to interfere with his biology so that whatever thoughts or feelings he had never made it out verbally. That’s horrific. The demon also convulsed him physically, which means that mentally, spiritually, and physically the boy was not the dominant personality in his own body. The boy was marginalized inside himself for years.

That was a big splash in that boy’s life. And it could be a splash in ours too, but not a tsunami. Yes, demons are powerful. They have superhuman strength. But they are not God. They are neither omnipresent nor omniscient. Interestingly, we see here that demons can overplay their hand. This demon couldn’t help himself. He came into the presence of Jesus and convulsed the boy and got himself promptly evicted.

Demons still have power, but it is limited. A Christian cannot be possessed either bodily or spiritually. When Jesus lives in you, that’s not possible. But you can be oppressed. Demons tempt; suggest; and, Scripture says, incite. That means that you are not always alone in your thoughts. There can be more thoughts in your head than just yours—more feelings too. Have you ever felt hostage to your own thoughts? Have you ever spun out in anxiety? That could be trauma or your sinful nature or demonic oppression. Isn’t that why the Bible says, “Cast all your anxiety on him,” and then immediately afterward goes on to say, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:7-8)?

The call is to go at these (potential) impacts with God’s health. What does that mean? First, we don’t ever mess with demons through activities like tarot cards, Ouija boards, astrology, or channeling. Seek the Lord and his power, nothing else. Second, wisdom says that we go at demonic influence the same way we go at physical health. The simplest things are the best medicine. How do you deal with almost all of the problems demons try to use? Eat well. Think Word and sacrament. Exercise regularly. Work out loving deeply, forgiving freely, and praying constantly. And rest well in Christ.

The Lord of the demons

There, we made it to the exorcism itself. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately convulsed the boy. And the father said to Jesus, “If you can” (Mark 9:22). Do you think it’s possible the father thought Jesus wasn’t the answer because things got worse? Even if that wasn’t the case, it can be for us. You come to church. You pray. You try to heal with Jesus, but your anxiety just spiked, and you think it isn’t working. Oh, but it is. The reason things got worse is because you got close to Jesus and so the attack intensified because the demon was losing ground. Take that in. When you feel the attack when you’re near Jesus, it’s not because coming near him isn’t working. It’s because it most intensely is.

That we know. This exorcism proves it. When Jesus tells demons to go, they have to go. Shriekingly. And convulsively. And hatefully. They have to because he is their Lord; he has power over them. I think we should understand that as a key piece of the gospel: Jesus makes demons do things against their will. Actually, this whole story is about that. The Lord put a hedge around that boy his whole life. He never let that demon kill the boy. Instead, he made this demon possession lead to the perfect freedom, power, and love of Jesus—both for that father and that son.

When you feel the attack when you’re near Jesus, it’s not because coming near him isn’t working. It’s because it most intensely is.

That right there is a miniature gospel that mirrors the gospel for us all. Satan tempted Judas, and it led to our salvation. That’s what happened. The schemer got schemed. The murderer was murdered by his own murderous plan. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ is all the proof we need of that. Do you see it? The only thing Satan ever did in the end was help Jesus along to win you forgiveness and salvation. Whatever Satan is doing in your life, it’s always only that. He may be harassing you, but it’s to Jesus. Freedom is coming next. It has to. Jesus is Lord of the demons too.

This is the fourth article in a five-part series on Jesus’ miracles in the gospel of Mark. Read part one, part two, and part three. 

Learn more and register for a live online Bible study with Bourman to delve deeper into the miracles of Mark. 

Author: Jonathan Bourman
Volume 113, Number 04
Issue: April 2026