Introduction
We have an important decision as preachers this week: How do we talk about demonic possession?
I want to begin by saying, I don’t think there is a totally wrong answer here. There will be a lot of debate among commentaries and articles that talk about not negating the power of these texts. There will be some commentaries that talk about demonic possession as part of the apocalyptic genre. There will be some social media clergy debates about whether or not we should describe medical conditions, mental health struggles, or addiction as examples of demonic possession.
There are a number of pitfalls to each of these arguments (more than I can cover here). There are a number of very good points to these arguments (some of which I hope to cover). But at the end of the day, I think there’s only one explanation that would totally miss the mark. That the people of Mark and Jesus’ time were ignorant and didn’t understand a medical thing and thus these stories no longer apply to us.
If you hear me say anything in this commentary, hear this. Regardless of if these texts are describing supernatural forces, medical conditions, mental health struggles, or addiction, a human being is suffering and is separated from the community and from feeling the love of God. And in these moments, Jesus breaks down that barrier so the person can be restored to community and to feeling the love of God. There is meaning in these texts for us today. There is no reason to throw them away.
Apocalyptic Genre
One thing that is most certainly true for Mark, is this encounter is very much a supernatural encounter. We are supposed to understand Mark as introducing a cosmic moment here. In one of Jesus’ first public appearances, a demonic force (a power the rebels against God) confronts Jesus. While we as humanity will wrestle with who Jesus of Nazareth is over the course of this Gospel, the demon already knows. In the cosmic battle of God vs evil, evil knows God intimately well. And so, immediately (to use a good Markan word), this unclean spirit confronts Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
I cannot say this for sure, but new scholarship is alluding more and more to the apocalyptic genre being very present in Jesus’ day (and in Mark’s too). Second Temple Judaism writings are full of demonic lure and origins. But ultimately, they signal that there are these forces in the world that rebel against God and often they use us (humans) for those purposes.
To come at this from the apocalyptic literary/narrative lens can be very helpful because it’s actually very familiar to us. Think of Lord of the Rings and other fantasy genre writings. While there is some nuance in the text, the characters are often simply good vs evil. But throughout there is temptation, power, manipulation, and allure that move a good person to becoming evil. The temptation is made tangible in an artifact (a ring of power, the most powerful wand in the world, gold and treasure). When we make these things tangible it allows us to more clearly see some distance between the evil and humanity. The person isn’t evil, they just got consumed by the allure of the ring. This can be a really good way to bring some people into the realm of the demonic. We are not told if this demon regularly “convulses and cries out.” It is possible that this only happens because of coming into the presence of Jesus (the Holy One). This man may be someone who is actually very “normal” in day-to-day life but could be the resident power-monger. This could be someone who has been entranced by greed, power, or temptation. The demon in this instance can be a way for us to see that the man’s personhood is not lost altogether. If separated from the demon, he could have a chance.
This argument does not negate the power of the text, in fact, I believe it might amplify it. It draws a sense of urgency in us today that demons are still around us here and now. Temptation, power, greed, and anger are all still very present in our lived reality today. Are those who have been possessed by them lost causes? Or if separated from those demons could the humanity of the person be restored?
Mental Health and Addiction
This section has to be delicately talked about. To describe all mental health diagnoses as demonic could be harmful to those in our community. I think we can try to define it then (and if you disagree with me here, I would love to be in conversation about this as I am still articulating it for myself). I think we ask if these struggles are leading to the person rebelling against God and the community.
Centering my own experience, I find viewing demonic possession as a useful lens for my addiction. There was a voice inside me, inside my head, that would tell me to drink when things were too hard. There was a voice that told me that I didn’t need friends who worried about my drinking. There was a voice that told me that nothing I did mattered (good, bad, or otherwise). There was a voice that told me if it all ended, it would be fine.
Hearing this story recalls that struggle for me and helps me to have hope in Christ that comes into our midst and helps to free us. Because I also remember a voice that told me I have a problem and then those words came from my mouth. I also remember a voice telling me that I needed the friendship and love of those around me to get back to healthy living and I began repairing those relationships. I remember the voice of my parents telling me that they loved me and believing it.
While addiction, depression, anxiety may be a part of me, they are not the whole of me. But when I allow them to consume me, then I feel separated and distant from God and my community and then I feel completely lost. Being able to hear that they are not all of who I am helps me to believe that there is a possibility of being restored to myself. Being able to hear this Gospel text gives me hope that Christ can come into my life (and the lives of others) and free us to once again feel the love of God and the love of community.
Preaching Possibilities
I hope that there are some take aways that you can find above. But I want to leave you with this. This text is going to make people uncomfortable. And we don’t have to make fun of ourselves and western culture for being so distant from conversations about demonic possession.
We are uncomfortable for good reason. When we confront powers in this world that rebel against God, it is scary. And thinking about how those powers may still be around us, maybe even within us, is even scarier.
But there is Good News in this text. Christ comes into our lives and commands those powers to “Be silent” and to come out. There is promise that the love of God and the love of community are pursuing us even in those moments. We are free through the power of Christ. We are free to hear that voice that tells us we are loved and calls us back into relationship with God and each other.
Micah Krey 
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