The unfortunate association was cleaned up by Matthew and by Luke, who "cast out" the offending term in relation to the Spirit in favor of "non-compulsive" language more appropriate to the "holy" Spirit of developed Christian theology, who "leads" rather than drives (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1). John's Gospel knows nothing at all of this incident, but does preserve the appropriate idea of "casting out" evil in John 12:31 (of the prince of this world).
And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. -- Mark 1:12
(Καὶ εὐθὺς τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτὸν ἐκβάλλει εἰς τὴν ἔρημον)
ἐκβάλλω "I cast out" with reference to devils is all over the place in the Synoptics. Here are just some of the examples from Mark, a primitive gospel replete with raw, vivid language:
