pat loughery

I’m doing a set of discussion questions for our home group tonight, which is studying the Gospel of Mark. I’m using two commentaries and a very good study, below:

(NOTE: If you want a really good resource series for personal or group studies of biblical books, I have been really happy with the LifeChange series on NavPress. They’re produced by the Navigators, have good exegetical and hermeneutical questions, and a decent layout for the group’s study time in each study chapter.)

Anyway, the study made an interesting note.

Mark records three principal activities in Jesus’ ministry: preaching, healing and casting out demons. Which of these three is the primary evidence that the Kingdom of God has arrived in the person of Jesus? Why? Compare Matthew 12:28 and Luke 11:20.

I’m not convinced that one activity is primary; it seems to be an “all of the above” answer to me. But, Matt 12:28 and Luke 11:20 (though they’re not answering this question) are quite clear in their intent:

Matt 12:28: “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Luke 11:20: “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”

(NIV, both)

These two passages and Mark 3:20-30 all reference the story (which appears to be much more direct than a parable; a simple illustration really) of the strongman being bound and his house being robbed. I’ve been told that this story was, in John Wimber’s view, a key to understanding our time in the Kingdom – that our job is to rob the strongman’s home as he’s already bound by Jesus’ work on the cross. Our job is to loot the enemy’s possessions (the lives of those around us whom Satan has captured).

I’m not completely convinced that this short story is a high point in the Gospel narratives, but it’s certainly important.

And all that could mask this very important question: IS demonic expulsion the primary activity of the Kingdom and the power encounters between God’s Kingdom and the enemy’s? And if it is, then how should our worldview change to prioritize this activity?