John who wanted to restrict an exorcist who was not of their number (Mk 9:38). He cured the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mk 7:2) and scolded St.
Jesus was most generous in his ministry of exorcisms. It should also be noted that evil spirits are labeled “unclean” more than 20 times in the Gospel of St. In one case so many demons possessed a man that their name was Legion. Mary Magdalene is remembered to have had seven demons (Mk. Some of the possessed were controlled by several demons (Mk 12:43). The possessed are occasionally granted superhuman powers: “This man lived in the tombs and no one could any longer bind him, even with chains for often he had been bound with fetters and chains, and he had rent the chains asunder and broken the fetters into pieces” (Mk.5:3-4). Other times demons inflict great harm on their victims: “wherever he takes him, he dashes him, and immediately he gnashes with his teeth and pines away and often he casts him into the fire and into waters to destroy him” (Mk 9:17). Mark’s Gospel: “…they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed…then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons…And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons… And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” This coming Sunday’s Gospel passage makes no mention of how the evil spirit afflicted its victim (Mk. There are many generic references to demons in St. Mark, as noted, that especially reveal diabolical activity during Christ’s public life. The Old Testament has only one reference to an evil spirit when the Book of Kings records that King Saul was troubled by “an evil spirit from the Lord.” The Book of Acts does record a demon possession and St. John never mentions demon possession at all. Mark will make reference to the devil and his demons 34 times.
After only 23 verses into his Gospel, the evangelist writes, “Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.” All together, St. Mark does not lose any time in introducing his readers to the power of evil and specifically to the power of the Evil One.
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