Jesus Demon Possessed?
--- title: "Jesus Demon Possessed?" date: series: "Sermons 2001 Rewritten" text: "Mark 3:11–12, 22–27" speaker: Ed Rangel location: Waupaca Church of Christ bibleversion: NASB 1995 type: Expository status: draft tags:
sermon
sermons-2001-rewritten
mark
demons
satan
kingdom
salvation
cssclasses:
tpt-sermon
tpt-sermon-outline
tpt-mode-outline
---
Jesus Demon Possessed?
Learning Objectives
Explain why the scribes accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul.
Show how Jesus exposed the foolishness of claiming that Satan casts out Satan.
Identify Satan as the strong man and Christ as the stronger One who binds and plunders him.
Defend the present reign and kingdom of Christ against future-only kingdom error.
Call hearers to receive the salvation Christ won by defeating the devil’s power.
Thesis
Jesus was not possessed by Satan; He was binding Satan, overthrowing his works, and freeing captives through the power and authority of God.
Religious people can become so hardened that they look at mercy and call it evil. They can watch Jesus heal a man and plot His death. They can hear demons confess Him as the Son of God and accuse Him of working with the devil. That is not honest confusion. That is spiritual blindness with a Bible in its hand.
Introduction.
Many people have been fascinated by demon possession.
Movies have exaggerated it.
Popular religion has dramatized it.
Superstition has often confused sickness, mental affliction, and demon possession.
The Bible treats demon possession seriously.
Demons were unclean spirits.
They could afflict and torment human beings.
They recognized Jesus.
They feared His authority.
Mark 5 gives a clear picture in the Gerasene demoniac.
The man lived among the tombs.
He could not be bound by chains.
He cried out and gashed himself.
When he saw Jesus, the demon confessed Him as “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.”
Mark 3 records another confrontation.
Jesus healed a man with a withered hand.
The Pharisees began plotting against Him.
Unclean spirits cried out that He was the Son of God.
The scribes accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebul.
The charge was wicked.
They saw divine authority and called it satanic power.
They saw mercy and treated it as evil.
They saw the stronger Man binding the strong man and refused to bow before Him.
I. The Accusation Against Jesus Came from Hardened Hearts.
Jesus had just exposed their spiritual hardness.
Mark 3:1–6 records the healing of the man with the withered hand.
Jesus entered the synagogue.
A man was there with a withered hand.
The enemies of Jesus watched to accuse Him.
Jesus asked whether it was lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill.
They kept silent.
Their silence exposed them.
They cared more about trapping Jesus than helping a suffering man.
Jesus looked around with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart.
His anger was righteous.
His grief was holy.
Their religion had become cruel.
He healed the man.
The hand was restored.
Mercy stood in front of them.
Their response was not repentance.
The Pharisees immediately sought alliance with the Herodians.
Mark 3:6 says they went out and began taking counsel with the Herodians against Him.
These groups were not natural friends.
But hatred of Christ can unite enemies.
Evil will join hands with evil to resist good.
Their concern was not truth.
They wanted to destroy Him.
They had already decided against Him.
Evidence did not soften them.
Religious opposition to Christ often hides behind concern for law.
They claimed Sabbath concern.
Jesus exposed heart rebellion.
They defended their system, not God.
The unclean spirits knew who Jesus was.
Mark 3:11 says unclean spirits fell down before Him and cried, “You are the Son of God!”
They knew His identity.
They recognized His authority.
They feared His power.
Their confession did not save them.
Demons believed facts about Jesus.
They confessed His identity.
Yet they remained demons.
This destroys the idea that bare belief alone saves.
Saving faith is not mere recognition.
Saving faith submits to Christ.
Faith that refuses obedience is not the faith Scripture commends.
Jesus warned them not to make Him known.
God does not need demons as His preachers.
The testimony of unclean spirits would be used by His enemies to slander Him.
Jesus did not build His ministry on satanic endorsement.
II. Jesus Exposed the Foolishness of Saying Satan Casts Out Satan.
The scribes accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul.
Mark 3:22 records their charge.
They said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul.”
They said, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”
This was not a small misunderstanding.
They attributed the work of God to the devil.
They called deliverance demonic.
They treated the Holy One as satanic.
Their accusation came after seeing His power.
They could not deny the miracle.
They could not explain away the authority.
So they attacked the source.
Jesus answered with plain reason.
Mark 3:23 asks, “How can Satan cast out Satan?”
The accusation collapses under its own weight.
If Satan sends demons to destroy, why would Satan cast them out?
If Satan is building a kingdom of darkness, why would he tear it down?
A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
Division ruins strength.
Internal war destroys order.
A kingdom at war with itself falls.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
The same principle applies to a family.
Husband and wife fighting everything cannot build a strong home.
A house torn by internal war collapses.
If Satan rises up against himself, he is finished.
Jesus’ answer is simple.
Satan is wicked, but he is not stupid in that way.
The works of Jesus were not Satan fighting Satan; they were Christ overthrowing Satan.
The accusation revealed their own allegiance.
They accused Jesus of working with the devil while they plotted murder.
Jesus healed.
They conspired.
Jesus delivered.
They slandered.
The Pharisees were closer to Satan’s work than Jesus ever was.
Satan lies.
They lied about Jesus.
Satan murders.
They sought to destroy Jesus.
A person can be religious and still serve the devil’s purposes.
Religious words do not cleanse a rebellious heart.
A Bible in the hand does not sanctify slander in the mouth.
Zeal without truth becomes a weapon against God.
III. Jesus Bound the Strong Man.
Jesus gave the parable of the strong man.
Mark 3:27 says no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man.
The strong man must be overpowered.
His house must be invaded.
His goods must be taken.
In this context, the strong man is Satan.
He held people in bondage.
He worked through demons.
He deceived nations.
He enslaved through sin and fear of death.
Jesus is the stronger One.
He cast out demons.
He resisted temptation.
He exposed Satan’s lies.
He came to destroy the works of the devil.
Satan had real power, but he was never equal to God.
Scripture shows Satan’s destructive influence.
He tempted Eve.
He moved David to number Israel.
He afflicted Job within limits God allowed.
He deceived and destroyed.
First Chronicles 21:1 says Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.
Pride was involved.
The nation suffered.
Satan’s work brought real harm.
But Satan’s power has always been limited.
He is not God.
He is not sovereign.
He cannot overrule the Lord.
He can only work within what God permits.
Christ bound Satan through His victorious work.
Genesis 3:15 promised the seed of woman would crush the serpent’s head.
Satan would bruise the heel.
Christ would crush the head.
The cross looked like Satan’s victory, but it was his defeat.
Jesus resisted Satan in the wilderness.
Forty days of temptation did not overthrow Him.
He answered with Scripture.
He remained sinless.
Through death and resurrection, Christ triumphed.
Hebrews 2:14–15 says He shared flesh and blood so that through death He might render powerless the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
He delivered those enslaved through fear of death.
Satan’s claim was broken by Christ’s victory.
First John 3:8 says the Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
That is what Jesus was doing.
Not cooperating with Satan.
Destroying Satan’s works.
The binding of Satan does not mean Satan is inactive.
First Peter 5:8 still warns Christians to be sober and alert.
The devil prowls like a roaring lion.
He seeks someone to devour.
Christians must resist him.
Binding means limitation, not extinction.
Satan cannot stop the gospel.
Satan cannot prevent Christ from saving.
Satan cannot deceive the nations in the same way he once did before the gospel went to all.
Revelation 20:1–3 speaks of Satan being bound so that he would not deceive the nations any longer during the thousand years.
This does not teach an earthly Jewish millennium.
It symbolically describes Satan’s restriction during Christ’s reign.
Christ is reigning now.
The gospel is going to the nations now.
Premillennial systems miss the point when they postpone Christ’s reign.
Jesus is not waiting to become King.
The kingdom has come.
The strong man has been bound.
The gospel is plundering Satan’s house now.
IV. Jesus Plunders Satan’s House by Saving Captives.
The strong man’s goods represent those held under Satan’s power.
Satan had mankind in bondage.
Through sin.
Through deception.
Through fear.
Through death.
Demonic possession displayed Satan’s cruelty in visible form.
Bodies were tormented.
Minds were afflicted.
People were driven, isolated, and wounded.
Sin is an even deeper bondage.
A man may not be demon possessed and still be Satan’s captive.
A person may look normal and still be enslaved to sin.
The devil does not need dramatic displays if quiet rebellion will do.
Jesus freed captives by the power of God.
When Jesus cast out demons, He showed His authority over Satan.
Demons obeyed Him.
They feared Him.
They could not resist His command.
Matthew 12:28 says if He cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God had come upon them.
The miracles were not random displays.
They announced kingdom authority.
The King was present and overthrowing the enemy.
The kingdom is not postponed.
Christ’s authority was present.
His reign was breaking Satan’s hold.
Colossians 1:13–14 says Christians have been transferred into the kingdom of His beloved Son.
Redemption and forgiveness are found in that kingdom now.
Jesus saves through the gospel.
First Corinthians 15:1–4 declares the gospel.
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
He was buried.
He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
This is the message by which people are saved if they hold it fast.
Romans 1:16–17 says the gospel is God’s power for salvation.
Not entertainment.
Not superstition.
Not man-made religion.
The gospel.
Acts 2:39 says the promise is for those near and far, as many as the Lord calls.
Salvation is offered beyond one nation.
The gospel reaches all peoples.
Christ plunders Satan’s house by calling sinners into His kingdom.
The choice is submission to Christ or continued bondage.
Jesus was not demon possessed.
He was the Son of God.
He was the stronger Man.
He was the Savior binding Satan.
The Pharisees accused Him while serving the devil’s purposes.
They rejected truth.
They plotted death.
They slandered righteousness.
The hearer must not repeat their blindness.
See Christ for who He is.
Hear the gospel He sends.
Leave Satan’s bondage.
Submit to the King.
Application.
For the sinner.
Satan does not have to possess your body to own your life.
Sin is bondage.
Christ came to free captives, but freedom is found only by submitting to Him.
For the Christian.
Do not fear Satan as though Christ has not triumphed.
Do not play with Satan as though he is harmless.
Resist him with sober faith and the word of God.
For the church.
Do not attribute Christ’s truth to evil just because it offends religious tradition.
The scribes saw the work of God and slandered it.
We must test all things by Scripture, not prejudice.
For parents and teachers.
Teach children that Satan is real, but not equal to God.
Teach them that Christ is King now.
Teach them that the gospel is God’s power to free people from sin.
A generation confused about Satan will either fear him too much or take him too lightly.
Conclusion.
The scribes said Jesus was possessed by Beelzebul.
They were wrong.
They were wickedly wrong.
They had watched the Son of God overthrow Satan and called it Satan’s work.
Jesus answered with truth.
Satan does not cast out Satan.
A divided kingdom cannot stand.
A divided house cannot stand.
The strong man must be bound before his house can be plundered.
Christ is the stronger Man.
He resisted Satan.
He cast out demons.
He died and rose again.
He rendered Satan’s power over death powerless.
He frees captives through the gospel.
Isaiah 1:18–20 still presses the choice.
God calls sinners to reason with Him.
Scarlet sins can be made white as snow.
But blessing belongs to those who consent and obey.
Refusal and rebellion end in judgment.
Do not stand with those who slandered Christ.
Stand with the One who defeated the devil.
Obey the gospel.
Enter the kingdom.
Be free.
Plan of Salvation
Hear the word.
Faith begins when the sinner hears the gospel of Christ.
The gospel announces the victory of Christ over sin, death, and Satan.
Reference: Romans 10:17.
Believe Christ.
The sinner must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
The demons knew facts about Jesus, but saving faith submits to Him.
Reference: John 8:24.
Repent.
Repentance turns the heart from sin and Satan’s rule toward God.
God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Reference: Acts 17:30.
Confess Christ.
Faith must not remain hidden.
The sinner must confess Christ as Lord.
Reference: Romans 10:9–10.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
The sinner must submit to baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
Baptism is not a symbol after salvation; Scripture connects it with forgiveness, new life, and entrance into Christ.
References: Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21.
Live faithfully.
The Christian must resist the devil and remain loyal to Christ the King.
The Lord calls His people to faithfulness until death.
Reference: Revelation 2:10.
Word Study.
| Word | Original | Meaning | Use in Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unclean spirit | πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον / pneuma akatharton | Unclean spirit, demon. | The spirits recognized Jesus and submitted to His authority. |
| Beelzebul | Βεελζεβούλ / Beelzeboul | Name associated with the ruler of demons. | The scribes accused Jesus of working by demonic power. |
| Satan | Σατανᾶς / Satanas | Adversary, opponent. | Jesus shows Satan would not cast out himself. |
| Kingdom | βασιλεία / basileia | Reign, rule, kingdom. | A divided kingdom cannot stand; Christ’s kingdom has come. |
| House | οἰκία / oikia | House, household. | A divided house cannot stand; Satan’s house is plundered by Christ. |
| Strong man | ἰσχυρός / ischyros | Strong, mighty one. | Satan is pictured as the strong man whose house must be invaded. |
| Bind | δέω / deō | To bind, tie, restrain. | Christ binds Satan by limiting his power and defeating his works. |
| Plunder | διαρπάζω / diarpazō | To plunder, thoroughly seize. | Christ takes captives from Satan’s power through the gospel. |
|---|---|---|---| | Unclean spirit | πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον / pneuma akatharton | Unclean spirit, demon. | The spirits recognized Jesus and submitted to His authority. | | Beelzebul | Βεελζεβούλ / Beelzeboul | Name associated with the ruler of demons. | The scribes accused Jesus of working by demonic power. | | Satan | Σατανᾶς / Satanas | Adversary, opponent. | Jesus shows Satan would not cast out himself. | | Kingdom | βασιλεία / basileia | Reign, rule, kingdom. | A divided kingdom cannot stand; Christ’s kingdom has come. | | House | οἰκία / oikia | House, household. | A divided house cannot stand; Satan’s house is plundered by Christ. | | Strong man | ἰσχυρός / ischyros | Strong, mighty one. | Satan is pictured as the strong man whose house must be invaded. | | Bind | δέω / deō | To bind, tie, restrain. | Christ binds Satan by limiting his power and defeating his works. | | Plunder | διαρπάζω / diarpazō | To plunder, thoroughly seize. | Christ takes captives from Satan’s power through the gospel. |
Scripture Interlock Table.
| Testament | Reference | Original Context | Connection to Main Text | Doctrinal Use | Sermon / Teaching Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Testament | Genesis 3:15 | God promises the seed of woman will crush the serpent’s head. | Anticipates Christ’s defeat of Satan. | Shows Satan’s defeat was promised from the beginning. | Supports Point III. |
| Old Testament | 1 Chronicles 21:1 | Satan moves David to number Israel. | Shows Satan’s destructive influence over men and nations. | Demonstrates Satan’s real but limited work. | Supports Point III. |
| Old Testament | Job 1–2 | Satan afflicts Job but only within limits God permits. | Shows Satan is not equal to God and operates under divine limits. | Guards against exaggerated views of Satan. | Supports Point III. |
| Old Testament | Isaiah 1:18–20 | God calls rebellious people to reason, be cleansed, and obey. | Gives the invitation frame for sinners. | Shows mercy and warning together. | Supports Conclusion. |
| New Testament | Mark 3:1–6 | Jesus heals the man with the withered hand; enemies plot His death. | Sets the immediate context of hardened opposition. | Exposes religious hardness. | Supports Point I. |
| New Testament | Mark 3:11–12 | Unclean spirits confess Jesus as the Son of God. | Shows demons knew Christ but were not saved. | Refutes bare-belief-only salvation. | Supports Point I. |
| New Testament | Mark 3:22–27 | The scribes accuse Jesus of demonic power; Jesus teaches about the divided kingdom and strong man. | Main text. | Shows Christ overthrows Satan. | Governs the sermon. |
| New Testament | Mark 5:1–20 | Jesus casts demons from the Gerasene demoniac. | Shows demonic torment and Christ’s authority over demons. | Demonstrates Jesus’ power to deliver. | Supports Introduction. |
| New Testament | Matthew 12:28 | Jesus says casting out demons by the Spirit means the kingdom has come. | Clarifies the kingdom significance of exorcism. | Shows the kingdom is present, not postponed. | Supports Point IV. |
| New Testament | Romans 1:16–17 | The gospel is God’s power for salvation. | Shows how Christ frees captives now. | Grounds salvation in the gospel. | Supports Point IV. |
| New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 | Paul summarizes the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. | Shows the saving message by which captives are freed. | Centers salvation in the resurrection victory of Christ. | Supports Point IV. |
| New Testament | Hebrews 2:14–15 | Christ renders powerless the devil who had the power of death. | Explains Christ’s victory through death. | Shows deliverance from fear and bondage. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | 1 John 3:8 | The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil. | States directly what Jesus was doing in casting out demons. | Establishes Christ’s mission against Satan. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | 1 Peter 5:8 | The devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. | Shows Satan remains dangerous though limited. | Calls Christians to vigilance. | Supports Point III and Application. |
| New Testament | Revelation 20:1–3 | Satan is bound so he may not deceive the nations during the thousand years. | Connects with the binding imagery in Mark 3. | Supports present reign and rejects future-only kingdom assumptions. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | Colossians 1:13–14 | Christians have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ. | Shows the kingdom is a present reality for the redeemed. | Refutes postponed kingdom theology. | Supports Point IV. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Old Testament | Genesis 3:15 | God promises the seed of woman will crush the serpent’s head. | Anticipates Christ’s defeat of Satan. | Shows Satan’s defeat was promised from the beginning. | Supports Point III. | | Old Testament | 1 Chronicles 21:1 | Satan moves David to number Israel. | Shows Satan’s destructive influence over men and nations. | Demonstrates Satan’s real but limited work. | Supports Point III. | | Old Testament | Job 1–2 | Satan afflicts Job but only within limits God permits. | Shows Satan is not equal to God and operates under divine limits. | Guards against exaggerated views of Satan. | Supports Point III. | | Old Testament | Isaiah 1:18–20 | God calls rebellious people to reason, be cleansed, and obey. | Gives the invitation frame for sinners. | Shows mercy and warning together. | Supports Conclusion. | | New Testament | Mark 3:1–6 | Jesus heals the man with the withered hand; enemies plot His death. | Sets the immediate context of hardened opposition. | Exposes religious hardness. | Supports Point I. | | New Testament | Mark 3:11–12 | Unclean spirits confess Jesus as the Son of God. | Shows demons knew Christ but were not saved. | Refutes bare-belief-only salvation. | Supports Point I. | | New Testament | Mark 3:22–27 | The scribes accuse Jesus of demonic power; Jesus teaches about the divided kingdom and strong man. | Main text. | Shows Christ overthrows Satan. | Governs the sermon. | | New Testament | Mark 5:1–20 | Jesus casts demons from the Gerasene demoniac. | Shows demonic torment and Christ’s authority over demons. | Demonstrates Jesus’ power to deliver. | Supports Introduction. | | New Testament | Matthew 12:28 | Jesus says casting out demons by the Spirit means the kingdom has come. | Clarifies the kingdom significance of exorcism. | Shows the kingdom is present, not postponed. | Supports Point IV. | | New Testament | Romans 1:16–17 | The gospel is God’s power for salvation. | Shows how Christ frees captives now. | Grounds salvation in the gospel. | Supports Point IV. | | New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 | Paul summarizes the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. | Shows the saving message by which captives are freed. | Centers salvation in the resurrection victory of Christ. | Supports Point IV. | | New Testament | Hebrews 2:14–15 | Christ renders powerless the devil who had the power of death. | Explains Christ’s victory through death. | Shows deliverance from fear and bondage. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | 1 John 3:8 | The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil. | States directly what Jesus was doing in casting out demons. | Establishes Christ’s mission against Satan. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | 1 Peter 5:8 | The devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. | Shows Satan remains dangerous though limited. | Calls Christians to vigilance. | Supports Point III and Application. | | New Testament | Revelation 20:1–3 | Satan is bound so he may not deceive the nations during the thousand years. | Connects with the binding imagery in Mark 3. | Supports present reign and rejects future-only kingdom assumptions. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | Colossians 1:13–14 | Christians have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ. | Shows the kingdom is a present reality for the redeemed. | Refutes postponed kingdom theology. | Supports Point IV. |
Invitation.
Hear the word.
Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Believe Christ.
John 8:24 warns that unless you believe that Jesus is He, you will die in your sins.
Repent.
Acts 17:30 says God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Confess Christ.
Romans 10:9–10 teaches confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Live faithfully.
Revelation 2:10 calls the Christian to be faithful until death.
