In this passage of today’s Gospel, Jesus casts out a demon from a mute man, enabling him to speak. Instead of rejoicing at the miraculous deliverance, some people attribute Jesus’ power to Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Such a backdrop sets the stage for the teaching of Jesus on the Kingdom of God, spiritual warfare, and the consequences of unbelief.
Jesus’ Attitude Towards Criticism
In the face of doubters and naysayers, Jesus remains the embodiment of patience and wisdom. His response is marked by logic, calmness, and authority. He does not get defensive or return the insult. Instead, Jesus uses the criticism as an opportunity to lay bare the absurdity of the allegation and shed light on a deeper truth about God’s Kingdom. Jesus’ attitude towards criticism is great lesson for us.
Turning Criticism into Opportunity
Jesus said: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.” In other words, if Satan’s objective is to oppose the Kingdom of God, why would he empower Jesus to dismantle his own operations? It would be counterproductive. By posing these logical questions, Jesus exposes the inconsistency and irrationality of those criticizing him.
Moreover, by mentioning that others cast out demons in God’s name and asking by whose power they do so, Jesus cleverly places the critics in dilemma. If they claim it is by God’s power, then why not believe Jesus? If they claim it is by the devil’s power, they condemn their own.
There is a deep spiritual truth that Jesus reveals to us in this Gospel episode. This is more visible in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus says: “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven (…) either in this age or in the age to come” (Mt 12:31-32). Jesus underscores here the gravity of rejecting the clear manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It is not just about opposing a miracle; it is about resisting God’s very presence and power in the world.
Demonstrating the Kingdom of God
The true purpose behind Jesus’ miracles was to demonstrate the reality, power, and nearness of the Kingdom of God. By casting out the demon, Jesus showed that the reign of God had been manifested against the dominion of satan. When he declares, “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you,” he is signifying that the powers of darkness are being overthrown by the superior power of God. Jesus binds the devil and plunders what he has stolen. It is an affirmation of Christ’s supremacy over any evil power. And it is this same power that Jesus gave to his disciples while sending them on mission (Luke 10, 17-20).
A Warning About Neutrality
Jesus further elaborates on the spiritual warfare theme with the parable of the unclean spirit that leaves a person and later returns with seven other spirits. This illustrates the danger of spiritual vacuums. It is not enough to merely rid oneself of an evil, one must be filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly connect with God through prayer and works of charity. Thus, we will be able to resist the enemy always.
Conclusion
Like Jesus, we should not shy away from or be afraid of a criticism against our faith but see it as an opportunity to elucidate truths about our faith. Our responses should be grounded in wisdom, respect, love, and truth.
It is important for us to understand that the battle between good and evil is real. As followers of Christ, we should always keep in mind that when we stand with the Kingdom of God, we stand against the Kingdom of darkness. And those who are afraid of light of the truth of the Gospel or who do not know the truth of the Gospel will oppose what we say and do. We can only be victorious and persevere in this battle with the help of the Spirit of God.
AMEN