Flashback Episode — Using Jesus’ Communication Style: Mark 3:20-30 / Matthew 12:22-37 / Luke 11:14-28

As we continue moving through Jesus’ life within the gospel record, we come to an event where some religious leaders challenge Jesus. However, when I read each of the three gospels that include this event, each gospel writer included a detail that I wanted to focus in on.

While one possible way to solve this problem would be to read the event from each of the gospels that includes it, that would result in reading three very similar sounding passages, and we might lose what makes each passage distinct.

Instead, I thought it would be beneficial to blend the three gospels together for this podcast episode. At the very least, this makes for an interesting reading of this event, and it may even help us see something new in what happened.

The three passages I will blend from are the following: Mark 3:22-27 will be the base passage I’ll read from, and I will pull in details from Matthew 12:24-30 and Luke 11:15-23. For all these passages, we’ll use the Contemporary English Version of the Bible. For those who are interested in which verses are from which gospel, this info will be included in the transcript for this episode. Starting in Mark, chapter 3, verse 22, we read that:

^{Mark 3:22} Some teachers of the Law of Moses came from Jerusalem and said, “This man is under the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons! He is even forcing out demons with the help of Beelzebul.”

^{Luke 11:16} Others wanted to put Jesus to the test. So they asked him to show them a sign from God.

^{Mark 3:23} Jesus told the people to gather around him. Then he spoke to them in riddles and said:

How can Satan force himself out? ^{Matthew 12:25b} Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself. ^{Matthew 12:26} So if Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? ^{Matthew 12:27} If I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? Your followers are the ones who will judge you. ^{Matthew 12:28} But when I force out demons by the power of God’s Spirit, it proves that God’s kingdom has already come to you. ^{Mark 3:26} So if Satan fights against himself, that will be the end of him.

^{Luke 11:21} When a strong man arms himself and guards his home, everything he owns is safe. ^{Luke 11:22} But if a stronger man comes and defeats him, he will carry off the weapons in which the strong man trusted. Then he will divide with others what he has taken. ^{Luke 11:23} If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don’t gather in the crop with me, you scatter it.

When reading this compilation of these three gospels, we can see some significant themes and ideas. If you are interested in which verses went with each gospel, listen for the link I’ll share at the end of this episode, and look at the transcript for this information. In the transcript, I will have each verse and reference listed.

With this teaching pulled together from these three gospels, let’s look a little closer at it.

Mark’s gospel opens Jesus’ response by saying that Jesus spoke to the people in riddles, or other translations might say parables or illustrations. I find this detail significant because, at least for me, I remember the stories and illustrations that make me think better than the ones where I could correctly guess the punch line or conclusion.

I suspect that you and I may be similar in this regard. We might forget or ignore something that is too simple to be worth remembering or too abstract that we cannot even grasp it, but there is a window in between these two extremes that the right story or illustration can fit into.

Next, we switched over to Matthew’s gospel and discovered that Jesus didn’t just use riddles and stories, Jesus also defended His ministry using logic. In this short conversation-debate with the religious leaders, Jesus counters the challenge about whether He uses Satan’s power to cast Satan out using two logical conclusions.

First, Jesus says that Satan’s kingdom would self-destruct if it faced internal conflict with some sides casting out other sides. It would be similar to describing Satan’s forces experiencing a civil war, and internal wars between people on the same team never make the whole team stronger.

Secondly, Jesus says that the argument these religious leaders present, which suggests that Jesus uses Satan’s power to cast out demons, also incriminates their own priests and teachers who do the same thing. Jesus doesn’t discount God’s Spirit working through the priests and Pharisees who cast evil spirits out, but He challenges them on the idea that God only works through some avenues and not others when both outcomes are the same.

From Matthew’s gospel, we discover that Jesus taught a logical gospel, and that the gospel of Jesus is one that can be defended and supported with logic. As Christ’s disciples living in the world today, we should not fear or avoid defending our faith with logic. Christianity may be one of the most logical worldviews in existence today.

Next, we turn primarily to the gospel of Luke and discover another aspect related to how Jesus taught, which is illustrated by a strong man guarding his home. Not only does Jesus build on the parable-story and logic methods, He also brings in the method of having an overall theme that He is leading people to.

The theme that Jesus draws our attention to in this passage is that who we place our trust in matters more than we might realize: Will we trust in ourselves, like the strong man did, or will we trust someone stronger? This theme also is applicable to the logical arguments, because it matters who we place our trust in regarding God and Satan. Jesus is clearly illustrating that God is stronger, and that we should be placing our trust in Him.

The biggest key conclusion to Jesus’ teaching comes with a final punch: There is no middle ground. It is both a key point, and a challenge. Jesus isn’t trying to scare people into following Him, since fear is not a lasting motivator. Instead, Jesus brings this portion of His teaching to a very practical point of decision, and He leaves this decision in the hands of His listeners.

In these three gospel accounts of Jesus teaching on where His power comes from and on where we should place our trust, we find some excellent lessons on how to effectively teach others. Jesus shows us how to use illustrations, make people think, use logic, include an overall theme, and bring everything down to one single point that can be taken away and applied.

Jesus teaches us how to teach through His excellent teaching. If you are someone who leads, teaches, or who influences others, it is worth asking the question, “How can you use Jesus’ methods for your next presentation?”

However, before even beginning to apply Jesus’ methods, let’s briefly look a little closer at Jesus’ key point in Luke, chapter 11, verse 23: “If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don’t gather in the crop with me, you scatter it.” Jesus’ key point in this teaching is that we must actively be gathering people with Him, because if not, we are against Him. There is no middle ground on this issue.

As followers of Jesus, we are called and challenged to point people to Jesus. If you are allied with Jesus, is leading people to Him the primary focus of your life?

While answering this question may be difficult to admit or accept, there is a right answer to this question, no matter how politically incorrect it may be in society today, and that right answer leads God’s people into eternity!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life. Intentionally look for ways to point people to Jesus and to tell others about Him. When our lives are over, the only thing that will have mattered is our personal relationship with Jesus.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself to learn and grow personally towards God. The only way we are able to effectively share Jesus with those around us is if we know Jesus for ourselves. The best way to learn about Jesus and grow closer to Him is through regularly praying and studying the Bible.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or deviate away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!