Overview of Day 156: Jesus Casts Out Demons (2026)
In this episode of Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike Schmitz reads and reflects on Mark 5–6 and Psalm 21. The passages highlight Jesus’ authority over evil spirits, disease, death, nature, and human rejection. Fr. Mike’s commentary emphasizes a biblical worldview: the world includes a real spiritual battle, Jesus is actively reclaiming God’s kingdom, and disciples are called to trust him, offer what they have, and live without fear.
Key Scripture Readings
Mark 5: Jesus’ authority over evil, sickness, and death
- The Gerasene demoniac: Jesus casts out a legion of demons into a herd of pigs, freeing a man long tormented by unclean spirits.
- Jairus’ daughter: Jesus raises the synagogue leader’s 12-year-old daughter from death.
- The woman with the hemorrhage: After 12 years of suffering, she is healed by touching Jesus’ garment in faith.
Mark 6: Rejection, mission, and miraculous provision
- Jesus rejected at Nazareth: His hometown takes offense at him and his ministry is limited by their unbelief.
- Mission of the Twelve: Jesus sends the apostles out two by two with authority over unclean spirits, calling them to preach repentance and heal.
- Death of John the Baptist: Herod, pressured by Herodias and her daughter, orders John’s execution.
- Feeding of the 5,000: Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fish, feeding the crowd with abundance.
- Walking on the water: Jesus comes to the disciples in the storm, calms their fear, and reveals his divine power.
- Healings in Gennesaret: Many are healed simply by touching the fringe of Jesus’ garment.
Fr. Mike’s Main Reflection
Jesus is not only a teacher and healer, but a warrior-king
Fr. Mike stresses that Jesus’ exorcisms are not side notes—they are central to his mission. Jesus is taking back the Father’s kingdom from the evil one. The casting out of demons shows that the spiritual battle is real and ongoing.
Human beings matter far more than material loss
He highlights that one man’s liberation is worth far more than 2,000 pigs, underscoring Jesus’ concern for people over property, and for the dignity of every person.
A biblical worldview includes spiritual warfare
Fr. Mike points out that Scripture presents a world where:
- creation is good,
- but after the fall, humanity lives under spiritual oppression,
- and Jesus comes to free people from that bondage.
He also connects this to the rite of exorcism in baptism, explaining that baptism transfers a person from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of Christ.
Jesus’ response to need: “Do not be afraid”
A repeated theme in the readings is Jesus’ command not to fear:
- to Jairus, when his daughter appears dead,
- and to the disciples, in the storm on the sea.
Fr. Mike presents this as a message for believers today: trust Jesus even when the situation looks impossible.
The feeding of the 5,000 as a model for discipleship
One of Fr. Mike’s strongest takeaways is the pattern:
- Give Jesus what you have
- He blesses it
- He returns it
- You distribute it
He applies this to ministry and daily life, saying this is how God often works: he does not wait for us to have enough; he asks us to offer what we have.
Psalm 21: Thanksgiving for Victory
Psalm 21 is prayed as a royal psalm of gratitude and trust:
- the king rejoices in God’s strength,
- victory comes from the Lord,
- enemies cannot ultimately prevail against God’s purposes,
- and the psalm ends in praise of God’s power.
Fr. Mike prays through the psalm by praising God’s love and holiness, and by thanking him for freeing humanity from sin and Satan.
Takeaways
- Jesus has authority over demons, sickness, death, weather, and rejection.
- Faith matters—the woman with the hemorrhage and Jairus both model trust.
- God values people above all else, even above material loss.
- Disciples are called to participate in Jesus’ mission, not just observe it.
- When you feel inadequate, offer what you have and let Jesus multiply it.
- Do not be afraid is a core message of these chapters.
Notable Lines and Themes
- “Do not fear, only believe.”
- “You give them something to eat.”
- Jesus as the good shepherd to people “like sheep without a shepherd.”
- The call to live with confidence in God’s power rather than fear of evil or lack.