March 24

Thursday, March 24
Luke 11:14-23 

In this passage Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man.  Some of the people in the crowd that was gathered claimed he was doing work that the devil (Beelzebul) would do.  Jesus knew what they were thinking and responded to this by explaining how he was doing God’s work.  He goes on to tell a short parable about a Stronger Man.

I have difficulty understanding how some people in the crowd could think that Jesus was doing the work of the devil. He was performing a miracle, curing a mute. How could this be seen as an evil deed? Currently, Christ was teaching the things of God that were in ways contrary to the teaching of the Rabbis. They knew he was doing powerful things but since his teachings were different from what the elders taught, did they reason that the power did not come from God but was Beelzlebul’s work?

Verse 16 states that others in the crowd kept looking for a sign from heaven. Christ just cast out a demon and the skeptics still are looking for a sign from heaven?? Are no signs from Jesus sufficient to convince minds that he is doing the work of God the Father?

It makes me think. Are today's skeptics under the same bondage as those during Christ’s time on earth?

Reflection by Kevin Van Natta

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