Let Jesus Cleanse Your Life

Jesus healed a deaf mute by throwing out the demons that were causing the problem.

The Jews would not accept Jesus as God and tried to explain His power with

outrageous suggestions. 

 Jesus vs. Beelzebub: Overpowering the Strong Man (Luke 11:14-28)

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson,  Jesus Walk.com

Text

Luke 11:14-28         Read this passage

(The Jews did not accept Jesus as Savior. So, they explained his power by some other means. Some foolishly said He was empowered by satanic forces.  Jesus warned them not to say this about the Holy Spirit. They were not to attribute Holy works of God to the works of evil).

Exposition

When you’re trying to get to know a person, it is revealing to see how they respond under pressure. Years ago, when my former church was interviewing candidates for principal of our church’s elementary school, one of the things I sought to find out from the candidate’s references was how he handled anger. How did she respond under crisis?

The common view of “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” is flat and two-dimensional. It misses the Jesus under fire that we see in this week’s lesson. What emerges is a direct and penetrating response to slander. Like it or not, you are faced with confrontations, too. How do you respond under pressure? How to do that is what we disciples are seeking to learn from Jesus.

Before we examine the incidents in detail, let me give you the big picture of what is going on here. I considered breaking these verses up into several lessons, but I think they’re better understood as a whole — if you can keep the lines of Luke’s presentation clearly before you.

Jesus casts out a demon, and most of the crowds marvel, but

1. 1. Some accuse him of driving out demons by the power of Satan himself (dealt with in 11:17-28)
   2. Others ask for a sign from heaven (dealt with in 11:29-32)

He answers the accusation of casting out demons by the power of Satan in three ways: (11:17-22)

1. 1. If Satan were attacking his own forces, he would soon defeat himself.
   2. Jewish exorcists (of whom his opponents approved) would be subject to the same criticism.
   3. Jesus casts out demons by overpowering Satan who is oppressing the person.

Then he states emphatically that there is no place for neutrality in the war against Satan (11:23-28)

1. 1. Those who don’t gather with Jesus, scatter
   2. Unless the “house” of an exorcised person is inhabited and guarded, it will fall to demonic forces again.
   3. Freedom from Satan is only possible through obedience to God’s word.

First, let’s examine how Jesus handles the slanderous charge that he is empowered by Beelzebub.