Mark 3:20-27: a reflection

20The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him; for they said, “He is insane.” 22The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.” 23He summoned them and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end. 27But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder unless he first binds the strong man; then he will plunder his house.

Jesus is accused by the scribes of casting out demons by the prince of demons. He exposes the absurdity of the charge, a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and then gives a telling picture of what he is actually doing: No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man; then he may plunder his house. Jesus is the one who has bound the strong man; his casting out of demons is the plundering of the enemy's house, evidence not of alliance with evil, but of power over it.

Notice the picture Jesus gives of his own work: he has bound the strong man, and is plundering his house. The enemy is likened to a strong man guarding his possessions; and Jesus is the stronger one, who has bound him and is now freeing those the enemy held. His casting out of demons is not collusion with evil, but conquest of it; he has overpowered the strong man, and is setting his captives free. Jesus is stronger than the enemy, and has bound him.

That is a truth to hold with confidence: that Jesus is stronger than the enemy, and has bound him. We can feel the strength of evil, of temptation, of the forces that seem to hold us; and the enemy is indeed a strong man. But Jesus is the stronger one, who has bound the strong man and plunders his house, setting captives free. The enemy's strength is real, but Jesus' is greater, and he has already bound him. When you feel the strength of the enemy, of the sins or forces that seem to hold you, remember that Jesus is stronger, and has bound the strong man. You are not left to face the enemy's strength alone or on equal terms; Jesus has overpowered him, and is able to free those he held. Trust in the one who is stronger than the strong man, who has bound the enemy and plunders his house, and can set you free from what holds you.

Lord Jesus, accused of casting out demons by the prince of demons, you exposed the absurdity of the charge and gave a picture of your work: no one can plunder a strong man's house unless he first binds the strong man. You are the one who has bound the strong man, and your casting out of demons is the plundering of the enemy's house, evidence of your power over evil, not alliance with it. Let me hold with confidence that you are stronger than the enemy, and have bound him. I can feel the strength of evil, of temptation, of the forces that seem to hold me; and the enemy is indeed a strong man. But you are the stronger one, who has bound the strong man and plunders his house, setting captives free. The enemy's strength is real, but yours is greater, and you have already bound him. When I feel the strength of the enemy, of the sins or forces that seem to hold me, help me remember that you are stronger, and have bound the strong man. I am not left to face the enemy's strength alone or on equal terms; you have overpowered him, and are able to free those he held. Help me trust you, stronger than the strong man, to set me free from what holds me, Lord.