Desperate To Discredit Jesus.

There are many in our day who are desperate to discredit Jesus - politicians who claim to be atheists - scientists who claim to be smarter than God!

In this passage the Pharisees are very desperate to discredit Jesus...


Luke 11:15-20 (New International Version)

15But some of them said, "By Beelzebub,[a] the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." 16Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

17Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Some of the Pharisees followers were also exorcists - that is, they drove out demons.

The Pharisees accusations were becoming more desperate by the day.

To accuse Jesus of being empowered by Beelzebub, the prince of demons was also to say that Pharisees' own exorcists were doing Satan's work.

Jesus turned the religious leaders' accusation against them. Jesus first dismissed their claim as absurd (Why would the devil drive out his own demons?). Then he engaged in a little irony ("By whom do your followers drive them out"?)

Finally, Jesus concluded that his work of driving out demons proves that the kingdom of God has arrived.

TFTD: Listen and see if you can pick up modern attempts to discredit Jesus.

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.