3rd Week in Lent, Thursday – 11th March 2021 – Lk 11,14-23
The Kingdom is Powerful
The religious leaders were seeking to discredit Jesus’ work and character in the name of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus answered their charges with three arguments. First, their accusation was illogical. Why would Satan fight against himself and divide his own kingdom? Second, their charges were self-incriminating. By what power were the Jews casting out demons? On the contrary, Jesus’ miracles show that the kingdom of God is present, not the kingdom of Satan. Third, their accusation was really an admission of His power. For Jesus could not defeat Satan unless He were stronger than Satan. Jesus pictured Satan as a strong man in armour, guarding his palace and his goods. But Jesus invaded Satan’s territory, destroyed his armour and weapons and claimed his spoils (Jn 12,31-33; Col 2,15). Nevertheless, Jesus has stated that there are two spiritual forces at work in the world, and we must choose between them. Satan is scattering and destroying, but Jesus is gathering and building. In the kingdom of God, there is no tolerance for evil. Jesus came to destroy sin, evil, and death: “The Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn 3,8). Satan does have power because he is a pure spirit. But Jesus is much stronger.
