The Kingdom of God and Demon Possession

The Gospels include many accounts of Jesus casting demons out of people who were possessed by them. While Jesus was certainly motivated by compassion, delivering people from demon possession indicated something more fundamental about His earthly ministry (Mat 12:22-32). In this respect, the question asked by the multitudes who saw Jesus cast out a demon is telling, “Could this be the Son of David?” In essence they asked, “Is this the Messiah Who will rule forever as King?”
Later in this passage, Jesus also indicated a connection between the Kingdom of God and the casting out of demons. “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you?” When the kingdom of God is consummated, and Jesus is present upon the earth to reign, there will be no more blindness, sickness, death, or demons. Jesus’ miraculous works of healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons demonstrated His ability to bring about the conditions that will be enjoyed on the earth when the kingdom of God is established upon it. Those miraculous works demonstrated that Jesus is indeed the King, the Son of David! King Jesus Who presently reigns at the Father’s right hand actually dwells in us by His Spirit. We need not fear the devil, anyone else, or anything else for greater is He who is in us than he who is in this world!