When the seventy disciples returned after their mission they were amazed that by speaking the ‘name’ of Jesus they were able to cast out demons. Jesus had already demonstrated how to remove the demonic, changing madness back to sanity (see ‘Miracle - Healing Demon-possessed Man’). Here, even in his absence, somehow they were able to act using his name alone.

Names in the bible often have significance, none more so than Jesus. There is nothing special in the word itself but in what it signifies. In this context it is confirming the presence of Jesus. This is not about magic, conjuring up something, it is something already in us.

At the time of the judges, the Children of Israel thought that they could take God with them onto the battlefield if they had the Arc of the Covenant with them. Although the Ark represented the place where God met his people it was just a box and didn’t work in this way. They were not hearing what God wanted them to be doing, such as whether He wanted them to go to war. They acted as they wished and tried to recruit God to their cause.

There can be a tendency to use the name of Jesus in this way, to think that it is the same as casting a magic spell.

Jesus wanted his disciples to do what he was doing by expressing the Kingdom of God. He fills them with his Spirit. We are in him. He was not with them physically but was spiritually, so when they did something in his name, this was acting from his Spirit in them. They had been given clear instructions and were fulfilling them as if Jesus himself was there.

Spirits understandably appear to have more clarity about the spiritual aspects of humanity. When Jesus began his ministry, he had to explain to people who he was but the spirits knew immediately. In the book of Acts, Luke underlines this by including the example of the sons of Sceva who were trying to use the name of Jesus to remove spirits without his presence living in their lives. The spirits they were trying to remove from a person said that they recognised Jesus and how he was in Paul but asked “Who are you?”, before attacking them.

To fulfil his mission, disciples need to express Jesus and the Kingdom of God within society.

The rebellion had already happened in the heavenly realm before humanity was created on earth. Satan then gained power within creation by the sins of humanity. To resolve the problems required not only the salvation of humanity on earth but also the removal of the rebels from heaven. The change brought about by the response of humanity on earth to Jesus also wins the argument in heaven.

The bible explains that there was a spiritual invasion of humanity by the rebels, Satan and his demons. It appears that demons can inhabit humanity, if allowed access, but cause havoc whilst doing so.

The passage in Luke states that Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning when he heard about their success in ridding people of demonic possession. The impact of Jesus removing demons through his disciples has a direct affect on clearing out heaven as well as earth. There are passages that refer to a new heaven and a new earth. The book of Revelation suggests that, for a while, Satan disrupts humanity on earth before being bound.

If clothed in Jesus, we therefore have the ability to cast out demons if and when we come across them. This does not appear to be the main focus of his ministry but is one of the outcomes. He wants humanity to express the Kingdom of God. A side issue is that of freeing people from spiritual entanglements when they are encountered.

Miracles and healings are also signs he wants demonstrated through his disciples, and are also to be done in his name. These are part of the harvest, times where there is a response of peace.

The more important issue for Jesus than casting out demons in his name was that this was a sign of the disciples having their ‘names’ recorded in heaven. There is a shake up about to happen. The rebellious spirits are getting kicked out of heaven and the humanity that will remain on earth will be that having life in Jesus.

The passage picks up on this issue, how can you be sure about being part of this ongoing humanity, how to inherit eternal life?

The question was posed by a lawyer so Jesus gives a legal answer. He refers to the law "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.”

He then uses the parable of the good samaritan as the example of a neighbour, a person people at that time would have termed an enemy.

In other words, this was as impossible as casting out demons in our own strength. This could only be achieved by Jesus having impact on our lives, through forgiveness, salvation and filling by the Spirit.