Jesus the Strong Man Puts Satan on Notice
[23] And he called them to him and said 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 is coming to an end. [27] But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Mark 3:23–27 ESV Read More
Most of the time, when Jesus teaches something, He addresses things on a very practical level and on a spiritual level at the same time. In this case, Jesus has been casting out demons and the Pharisees are trying to come to grips with the power He is showing. They just can’t understand how somebody that isn’t just like them can do any spiritual good!
Jesus is talking to them and reasoning with them about how it can’t be the power of Satan driving out demons, but at the same time He’s leaking out another secret about Himself. At that time, and even in some Jewish circles today, having a demon was wrapped up in revenge and guilt. Just like people talk about “I’ll haunt you when I’m gone,” Jewish people in Jesus’ day blamed demonic possession on the dead. If somebody did somebody wrong, they thought their spirit would come back and mess with them or one of their kids. Like many hardships, the popular thought followed Jobs friends: you must have done something wrong for God to bring this suffering upon yourself.
There is no question that Satan and his demons are strong. The conflict and controversy is how can Jesus be stronger? Jesus explains that you can’t rob a strong man without first beating and tying up the strong man. Jesus is strong enough to beat Satan because He is going to take away revenge and retribution. If you deserve a demon because of what you did, and Jesus comes along and takes away judgment and condemnation, the Devil has no grip on you. That’s how this plays out.
Jesus is stronger because He is going to stand in the middle of the system of Sin and Law and take all of the punishment upon Himself for all who would believe. The Devil then has no accusations or strength and is bound. Once the devil’s mouth is shut and hands are bound, Jesus says He’s going to “plunder his house.” Jesus isn’t just stronger than Satan, Jesus is going to utterly ransack everything the devil has taken while the devil looks on powerlessly.
Jesus is getting the devil ready for Easter.
Satan’s mess will fall and collapse but it won’t be the fault of disorganization in the evil ranks. Jesus has come to reclaim His creation and inaugurate a new way of life between God and Man. Jesus is stronger than anything the devil can do. Just like a strong man showing up and beating down the previous strongman, Jesus comes in and reigns supreme. There will be numerous moments that look like setbacks and losses, even on the cross, but it isn’t because Jesus is weak. Lazarus died, Judas betrayed, and the crowds got their wish to crucify because of Jesus’ kindness and mercy, not out of His weakness.
The strong Son of Man is strong enough to yield in the process of conquering.
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