After the conversation with James on one of my posts where I mentioned not really believing in "spirits", I said that I should check out how each gospel portrays the activity of the demonic in the ministry of Jesus. I wondered if there was a difference between how the individual gospel writers portrayed demons and what they did and didn't do....and what Jesus claimed they were responsible for.
I haven't thoroughly checked all of the gospels or made any in-depth readings on the subject at this point, but in a quick word search for "demons" or "unclean spirit", and simply "spirit" I couldn't find one verse in the Gospel of John that refers to demons, or spirits....they're completely absent from the Jesus story.
The only time demons are brought up is when the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being possessed.
This strikes me as quite strange. I have read all of the gospels many, many times and never did I notice this before.
Anyone out there know of any resources that address this?
4 comments:
What about Satan specifically? Does John mention him in his Gospel?
Yes. John 8:44 I leave to your imagination what Jesus thinks of some of the popular programs for church growth.
I'm with you, Terri. It is amzing the things that seem soobvious but which I never noticed!
I suspect that after driving out demons for decades, both from people and idols and after writing the Apocalypse that deals so much with the demonic, St John might have felt the other three Gospellers had dealt sufficiently with that side of Our Lord's activity.
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