Jesus Called Satan
The Pharisees can’t handle Jesus’ popularity. They will do whatever it takes to discredit Him. Today they call Jesus, Satan. And the Holy Spirit as well.
Jesus has been performing miracles, including casting out demons. Each time He casts out demons, the people marvel at His authority. The Pharisees have had all they can take. They HAVE to discredit Jesus; to drive away those who are following Him.
It’s not that they don’t believe demons can be cast out, but it is part of THEIR stock-in-trade. Jesus in not only growing in popularity, but taking over their business. Something has to be done to stop this. Let’s rejoin Jesus as He deals with ‘copyright infringement’ issue.
Holy Spirit, thank You for the humor. Help me listen attentively to Your story though and gain from it what You would have me learn. Lead me where You want me to go and to take from the story all that You would speak into my life.
♥ ♦ ♥
Jesus continues on His mission; going throughout the region of Galilee, teaching and healing people. Today is like any other day, to most people. But Jesus knows what is on the horizon. A serious challenge is coming. Other than lean into His Abba, He does nothing out of the ordinary.
The Pharisees and other religious leaders have become a staple in the crowds following Him. They are always on the lookout for something to nit-pick or challenge Him on. Jesus refuses to be intimidated by them. He goes about His business as usual. He knows that He can’t worry about pleasing them. NO ONE can please them anyway. They find fault everywhere, so Jesus doesn’t even try.
In the crowd today, a group of people bring to Jesus a man who is both blind and mute. This isn’t a standard illness or birth defect. It came upon him suddenly and has grown more profound with time. His family has done everything they can think of to help him. He is now a shell of his former self.
When the family brings the man to stand before Jesus, He knows exactly what is causing his issue. Jesus sees the demons wrapped around the man’s head, throat, and heart. He is being ‘squeezed’ into submission by them. Jesus is angry with the demons for what they have stolen from this man.
Jesus commands them with just a word; “Come Out!”
In an instant, the man’s eyes blink because of the light. He raises his hand above his brow to shade his eyes. “That hurts” he says. He does all this before the realization hits him that he is both seeing AND speaking!
His family erupts with shouts of joy! The man realizes what has happened and joins in the shouts. “I was blind, but now I see! And I can shout praises to the Lord!”
Jesus watches their joy at having their family member restored to them.
The rest of the people in the crow were astonished by what they had just seen. This man was well known to them. And Jesus’ power is pushing every limit they ever imagined. “Could this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23).
The Pharisees in the crowd hear the people’s remarks. They CAN’T let this idea take root. They call out for all to hear; “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons” (Matthew 12:24).
Jesus knows why they are saying this. They are trying to drive the people away from Him and put them back in bondage under them. He threatens their way of life. Jesus gives them a withering look. Then He addresses everyone in attendance, while maintaining His focus on the Pharisees.
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges…”
Jesus sweeps His arm across the crowd to indicate the judges of the truth. Then He takes a step closer to the Pharisees.
“… But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:25-28).
Jesus looks around at the crowd. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house” (Matthew 12:29).
Jesus shakes His head. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).
Jesus returns His focus to the Pharisees. His tone is rock hard as He calls out their greatest sin. “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:31-32).
Several of the Pharisees visibly squirm in their robes. Jesus has struck a chord.
He is not done with them. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of…”
Jesus turns to address the whole crowd again. “… A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:33-37).
Some of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who had not voiced their objections earlier decide to step up.
“Teacher, we want to see a sign from you” (Matthew 12:38).
Jesus turns to them and answers, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 39-42).
The jaws of those who challenged Jesus, snap shut like a steel trap. They say no more. Jesus returns His attention to the crowd and especially to the man who just received deliverance.
“I have a stern warning for you. ‘When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first…’
Jesus turns His focus back to the Pharisees who are bunched up in a group; standing mute but fuming in their hearts.
“…That is how it will be with this wicked generation” (Matthew 12:43-45).
The Pharisees move to the back of the crowd and Jesus continues to minister to the people. He does not stop until every person has received from Him. He has MUCH more for them, but it will keep for the night.
(to be continued)
As a child, I wondered about ‘the unpardonable sin’; blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This story spells it out for us. The Pharisees called the works of the Spirit, works of Satan. Jesus did the miracles He did, not through flesh and blood, but by battling in the spiritual realm. And His works came from ONE source only; God’s Spirit. The Pharisees called God, Satan!
I wonder if they really grasped the implication of what they were saying. Were their words a desperate bid to discredit Jesus, or did they believe them? They were worse than fools if they believed this. And worse than vipers if they actually intended for the people to believe their words.
BE CAREFUL whom you associate with and listen to. Bad company corrupts good morals. And swallowing whatever ‘doctrine’ you come across has lasting effects.
Father God, let me NEVER call evil good or good evil. I give YOU all the credit for anything good that is brought out from Your word. PLEASE, purge ANYTHING in my stories that goes against Your word. Don’t let me be the author of confusion or false teaching.
