When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. (Luke 8:28-33)

Jesus Had Authority Over Demons

The multitudes that followed Jesus experienced the healing power of the Spirit to cure them of blindness, infirmity, leprosy, mangled limbs, lameness, sickness, and, in some cases, resurrection. These miracles testified to the power of Jesus over all disease. He also showed His power over the natural forces of nature. Everything in the world was at the command of Jesus. The Lord showed His authority as Creator to control His creation. Thousands of people could testify to the healing power of Jesus, and many more experienced His power over nature.

Another group of beings faced the authority of Jesus with fear and trembling. Jesus had power over the demon world. Little is known about the world of evil spirits and demon possession. The only time the manifestations of the spirit world appeared was when the Holy Spirit exercised His power to control them. During the ministry of Jesus and the early days of the church, God allowed the demon world to exercise limited power over men. The purpose was to show that Jesus had authority over all things in the world and those in the demon world.

Jesus visited the country of Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee, and found a man possessed of demons for a long time. The man was in a terrible state as the demons drove him to madness where no man could tame him or allow him to live in peace. Immediately upon the arrival of Jesus, the demon called out to Jesus, calling Him the “Son of the Most High God.” The world may struggle with believing Jesus is the Son of God, but this is not the case with the demons. They knew exactly who Jesus of Nazareth was, and they feared Him. It is clear they knew they were subject to Him.

Demons had names. The one Jesus encountered was called “Legion” because many demons possessed the man. When Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man, the demon obeyed without question. There was no thought to argue with Jesus or to refuse to obey. The word of Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man, and immediately, the demon obeyed and possessed a herd of swine feeding nearby. About two thousand swine then ran headlong into the sea and drowned.

The demons did not argue with Jesus or refuse to obey Him. They knew the authority of Jesus Christ and that He had authority over them. No man had that power except as given by the Holy Spirit. Jesus cast out demons to show He had power and authority over everything in the natural world, and He had control over all the demons. The fullness of His authority was confirmed in the manner the demons recognized Him as God’s Son, and whatever He commanded them to do, they had no choice. Jesus did not allow them to testify of Him. He told them to be quiet whenever they proclaimed Him to be Lord. The proof of His divinity could not come from the testimony of evil spirits.

Having power over the demon world completes the divine authority of Jesus of Nazareth. He could cure any disease, change and control the natural world, and exercise authority over all the spirit world. There was nothing He did not have authority over. His control and power were complete. The miracles of Jesus included the power of demons to show the world there was nothing Jesus could not do for them. There is no demon possession after the early days of the church. The power of Jesus has not diminished. After God raised Him from the dead, Jesus became Lord, Christ, and King. His dominion is complete. If Jesus can heal any disease, calm the forces of nature, and command the demons; what can He not accomplish in my life?

The power of Jesus was not demonstrated to tell stories centuries later. When the Holy Spirit wrote the scriptures of the divine book, He intended to show the power of Jesus Christ so that all men could know what the Son of God could do in their lives. God gave His Son as a gift of His grace to bring all men to salvation. Jesus can take away any sin when a man repents. There is nothing Jesus cannot do. Why not let Jesus remove the stain of sin from your life and make you free from the bondage of Satan? Jesus has all power and authority.