The True Lord

Matthew 12:22-28 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his Kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.”
 
THIS and next two lessons are on Jesus’ deity.
 
HERE is faith, and here is doubt. Here is sight, and here is blindness. They – likely the Pharisees – brought to Jesus a demon-possessed man born both blind and mute. You could easily say he was living in Hell’s grasp. But the Savior Jesus immediately cast out the demon to release the prisoner, to heal the man who then both spoke and saw.
   Some of the Jews were beginning to see, too, and they began to speak, “Is this the Son of David?” But then the jealous Pharisees tried to turn the work of God into a work from Hell. They charged the holy God with the most abusive and abase language to accuse him as the Lord of demons. Beelzebub is the “fly god” - “Lord of the Flies” - worshiped by Israel in Elijah’s day. Ultimately Beelzebub was viewed as the supreme god in apostate Israel. And the name would represent Satan. Accusing the Son of God to be the Evil One was a horrible blasphemy! The Pharisees had brought the blind man, but they were the blind ones. And their spoken words should have remained mute in Hell. They did not see the one who commanded the demons as the true Lord of Heaven and earth, the One who could command all things at his will.
   What’s your view of Jesus? Do you have faith he drives out demons by the Spirit of God? Do you see with your heart the Kingdom of God has come upon you? Are you able to speak of his holiness, righteousness, power and authority? Do you hear his love? Can you speak his truth? Is there any way you might be blind to his teachings, mute to teach others? Then pray for the Lord to cast his favor upon you, so your eyes will open to a more complete faith, a more true vision in the Lord of the Kingdom.
 
Jesus Teaches: Our Lord God reigns.