Jesus and Beelzebul
20 Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” 23 And he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit” Mark 3:20-30.
This is a powerful witness to the remarkable things Jesus was doing. Jesus is healing and causing such a stir, so His family, His followers, try to protect Him form a huge crowd of excited people. But the scribes, the experts in these matters, who accredit healers, didn’t like what was going on because Jesus didn’t fit in to their categories. So to discredit Jesus they accuse Him of acting with the power of Beelzebul, or Satan. So Jesus doesn’t react in anger, instead He calmly points out the flaws in their argument. Instead, Jesus is basically claiming that His work of healing is signaling the arrival of God’s Kingdom! It’s the work of the Holy Spirit, in other words.
There is no middle way for you or for me or for the world. You see, Jesus isn’t just one of many historical religious figures. No, Jesus brings the Kingdom of God. He is not a dangerous liar or madman. And all who follow Jesus must be prepared to respond to critics.
I see no other way to respond than to be in prayer in the loving presence of God. For it is in prayer that we experience to truth of who Jesus truly is. So today turn to Jesus in some quiet time of prayer. Love Him. Be with Him. Listen to Him. Follow Him!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” John 14:6.
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” John 8:32.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” John 16:13.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14.
Comments