Christian Art | Jesus Rebukes Satan
Luke 11: 14-23 – Lent Week 3, Thursday (Audio Bible, Spoken Word)
14 ¶ And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Jesus has performed miracles and his redeeming power over the devils which possess people is clearly apparent; Jesus’ power over evil is manifest. The people marvel, and yet their hearts are hardened to the truth of Jesus. Rather than see with their eyes and understand, they reject the truth of Christ. They retreat to within the evil that holds them captive, which prevents them from seeing the truth of Jesus. They mutter and grumble and gossip, actively seeking to suggest the worst possible and false interpretation of what they have witnessed. They have seen the work of absolute good. They choose to accuse this good of being evil. They do not rise to the message of Christ.
Jesus sees how the minds of the people are closed and he challenges them. He tells the people that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Evil will consume itself. Evil is an entirely destructive force that will inevitably bring about its own destruction. In order to understand this moment of Christ’s life on earth, we should remember that Christ is only doing good, and yet those who witness his good works are so dedicated to evil that they seek to interpret what they see in Christ’s actions as being evil. This is utterly false, and this tells us much about the predicament of the people whom Christ wishes to save.
Jesus goes on to describe Satan as a strong man, fully armed, guarding his house. The people are Satan’s captives. Christ is the stronger one, come to defeat Satan and take away from Satan those who believe in Jesus and see Jesus truthfully as what he really is, their salvation.
We are called to unity in our faith in Jesus. We are called to see beyond prison walls and to recognize our Saviour. We are called to be with Christ and to help every other human on earth to understand the redemption Christ brings to us.
The devil has no power over us when we approach Christ’s teachings with an open and honest mind. Through hearing and obeying Christ’s message, the prison walls of Satan’s evil are made nothing.
‘In the past prayer brought plagues, put to flight the hosts of the enemy, brought on drought. Now, however, the prayer of righteousness turns aside the whole wrath of God, is concerned for enemies, makes supplication for persecutors. Is it surprising that it knows how to squeeze out the waters of heaven, seeing it did have power even to ask for fire and obtain it? Prayer alone it is that conquers God. But it was Christ’s wish for it to work no evil: he has conferred upon it all power concerning good.’ Tertullian
Audio Bible KJV | Endnotes
Jesus The Exorcist | Casting Out Of Devils In The Bible
In Luke 11:14-23, Jesus is depicted as an exorcist who casts out a devil from a man who was mute. This miracle leads to a discussion about the power of Jesus and his relationship with the devil. Jesus explains that he is able to cast out devils because he is Godly, empowered by the Spirit of God, and that this is a sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God.
The casting out of devils was a common practice in the time of Jesus. It could be seen as a sign of the power of God at work, though there was belief in the time of Jesus that evil spirits could only be cast out by other evil spirits.
Christians believe in the reality of Satan and demons, and some priests specialize in exorcism. However, our understanding of illness and disability has changed over time, and we no longer attribute these conditions to demonic possession.
Nevertheless, this account of the exorcism guides us yet towards Jesus and to the Kingdom. It reminds us of the power of Jesus over evil and of the importance of recognizing the presence of God’s Spirit at work in the world. It also reminds us that the coming of the Kingdom of God is not just a future event, but is something that can be experienced in the present through the power of the Spirit.
Through the season of Lent, we may reflect on ways in which we may be held captive by the power of sin and evil in our lives, and we may look to Jesus as the one who has the power to set us free. We also seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, so that we may be empowered to live in a way that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus warns that those who speak against the Holy Spirit are in danger of committing an unforgivable sin. The ultimatum ‘he that is not with me is against me’ makes it clear that there is no neutral ground when it comes to Jesus’ ministry and message. Jesus explains that he is the gateway to salvation, and that there is no in-between; the commitment must be made.
There is to be a positive choice to conversion – to this revolution in terms of our understandings of life and death, good and evil, heaven and hell. We do not passively wander into heaven. There is to be a change of heart to be with Jesus.
Dear Jesus, In times of trouble and distress, I come to you, seeking comfort and peace. You understand the depths of my heart and the challenges I face. I bring my burdens to you, as they feel heavy and overwhelming. I trust that you will provide the rest and strength I need during these difficult moments [ … ]
Psalm 89 is a majestic hymn, a symphony of faithfulness, and a reflection on the enduring promises of God. Attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite, this psalm is a profound meditation on the covenant established with David, a covenant marked by divine pledges of steadfast love, eternal kingship, and an unbreakable lineage. The psalmist weaves history, theology, and the psalmist’s own individual spiritual contemplation [ … ]
King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version King Herod There were several individuals named Herod who played significant roles in ancient history, particularly in the history of the Roman Empire and the region of Palestine. Here is a brief overview of the most notable Herods: Herod the Great: Also known as Herod I, he was a Roman client king of Judea, ruling from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Herod Antipas: Also known as Herod II, he was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist and later had him beheaded. Herod Agrippa I: Also known as Herod III, he was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned the apostle Paul. Herod Agrippa II: Also known as Herod IV, he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over parts of Palestine and Syria from 50 to 100 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who heard Paul’s defence before the Roman governor Festus. These rulers, who were known as the Herodian dynasty, were not Jewish but rather descended from a Greek family that had converted to Judaism. Despite this, they were appointed as rulers by the Roman Empire and were generally unpopular among the Jewish population due to their collaboration with the Roman occupation and their often brutal methods of rule. Herod The Great Herod the Great, also known as Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was born in 73 BC in Idumea, a region in southern Palestine, and was the son of Antipater the Idumean, an Edomite who had been appointed as a governor of Judea by the Roman general Pompey. Herod rose to power after the Roman general Julius Caesar appointed him as king of Judea in 40 BC. He consolidated his power over the next few years by defeating his rivals and establishing himself as the undisputed ruler of the region. As king, Herod embarked on a massive building program that included the expansion and renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima, and the fortification of several cities in Judea. He also commissioned the construction of a number of palaces and other buildings, including the famous Herodium, a palace-fortress located south of Jerusalem. Despite his many accomplishments, Herod was a controversial figure who was known for his harsh rule and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. He was married several times and had a large number of children, several of whom he had executed when they posed a threat to his rule. One of the most famous stories associated with Herod is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. According to the New Testament, Jesus was saved by his parents, who fled to Egypt, and later returned to Palestine after Herod’s death. Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 70, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant rulers in the history of ancient Palestine. Herod Antipas Herod Antipas, also known as Herod II, was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He was born in 20 BC and was named after his father’s patron, the Roman emperor Augustus. Like his father, Herod Antipas was known for his ambitious building projects, including the construction of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was also known for his political cunning and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. Herod Antipas is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist, a prominent religious figure who criticized Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias. According to the New Testament, John was eventually beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter, Salome, who danced for Herod and his guests at a banquet. Herod Antipas is also mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who oversaw the trial and execution of Jesus. Although he initially wanted to release Jesus, he ultimately handed him over to the Roman authorities at the urging of the Jewish religious leaders. Herod Antipas’ rule came to an end in 39 AD when the Roman emperor Caligula exiled him to Gaul, modern-day France. He died in exile a few years later. Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I, also known as Herod III, was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He was born in 10 BC and was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice, two of Herod the Great’s children. Herod Agrippa I was well-educated and fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, and he was highly regarded by the Roman authorities for his loyalty and his ability to maintain order in Judea. He was appointed as king of Judea in 41 AD by the Roman emperor Claudius, who was impressed by his abilities and saw him as a reliable ally in the region. As king, Herod Agrippa I continued the building projects of his grandfather and expanded the Temple in Jerusalem. He also implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the […]
