Where Have All the Demons Gone?: The Role and Place of the Devil in the Gospel of John

John's Gospel is marked by a complete absence of demons. This is not due to John reflecting a more secular worldview than the Synoptics. In John's Gospel, a composite figure called "the devil" has replaced the demons. The devil is said to be a liar and a murderer, which stands in sharp contrast to Jesus, who is depicted as the author of truth and life. God and the devil do not exist in a static, dualistic, metaphysical relationship. The devil is the Prince of the created world. Jesus' person and actions challenge the devil's authority and power. Through Jesus' death on the cross, the devil has been exorcised from the whole world. John's Gospel omits the particular encounters between Jesus and demons because John wishes to focus the attention of his readers on the cross as the pivotal event where evil, as a powerful cosmic reality, was finally confronted and defeated.