The Miracles of Jesus
Lent – March 19, 2024
Matthew 12:22-28
Jesus vs. Beelzebub
In 1858, Abraham Lincoln accepted the nomination for senator from the republican party of Illinois. He ran against Stephen Douglas, the incumbent. The two had nine debates throughout Illinois during the fall of that year. Douglas won the election, but Lincoln gained popularity around the county. He became so popular that he ended up in the White House two years later.
Here’s a portion of one of Lincoln’s debate speeches from 1858. The Lincoln animatronic at the Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World uses parts of this speech.
Lincoln delivered one of his most famous speeches, the “House Divided” Speech. In it, he addressed the burning issue of slavery.
Lincoln believed slavery to be immoral; he wanted to stop its expansion into new territories and hoped it would eventually end.
“We are now far into the fifth year since a policy was initiated, with the avowed object and confident promise of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy, that agitation has not only not ceased but has constantly augmented.
In my opinion, it will not cease until a crisis shall have been reached and passed –
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided.
It will become all one thing or all the other.”
AbrahamLincolnonline.org
Living on the other side of history, we know that Lincoln’s speech was quite prophetic. A Civil War would begin in our country in just three years.
His house-divided statement was borrowed from the Bible; specifically, they are the words of Jesus.
***************The Point****************
The miracle for today’s devotion is Jesus healing a demon-possessed man. The healing itself is only one verse long.
“Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him so that the man spoke and saw.” V. 22
What the crowd said as a result of the miracle was filled with praise.
“And all the people were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” V. 23
What the Pharisees thought was condemnation.
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” V. 24
Jesus’ reply to the Pharisees was and is common sense.
“Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then, will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Verses 25-28
The Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being Satan or Beelzebub (which literally means Lord of the Flies.)
This accusation makes no sense, according to Jesus. If He were Satan, He wouldn’t be casting out Satan. We’ve just covered a small number of Jesus’ miracles. But, on more than one occasion, we’ve read that Jesus healed numerous people of ailments and cast out demons.
Would Satan cast the legion of his demons into a herd of pigs? Of course not. Beelzebub is not going to destroy his own army.
So, if that isn’t happening, then what is? Jesus says, “But, if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Jesus is telling the people and the Pharisees that He is casting out demons by the Spirit of God. Jesus is replying in the affirmative to the people’s question.
“And all the people were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
Yes, Pharisees, yes, people, it is He. This is Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of the living God.
Christ died to rid us of the sin that was imprinted on our hearts and souls. He freed us from Satan’s grasp through His death on the cross and resurrection three days later.
At times, our world may seem divided against itself. But, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we will never be separated from Him.
Dear Lord. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to us. His sacrifice and your love have freed us from Satan’s grasp. We live because your Son died for us. Thank you for your unending Grace. Amen.
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