The article, Jesus Triumphs Over Sin/Evil One, identifies Jesus possessing authority over the demoniacs. In addition, the Beelzebub Controversy also identifies Jesus’s authority over Satan and his evil forces.
The Beelzebub Controversy (Matthew 12: 22 – 30) begins with Jesus healing a demon-possessed man. The onlookers who witness this miracle ask if Jesus is the Son of David. Matthew, unlike Mark and Luke (Mark 3: 22 – 27 and Luke 11: 14 – 23), adds this inquisition in his narrative. Matthew uses the term, Son of David ten times throughout his gospel. He also notes in the genealogy of Christ, Christ being the Son of David. In context of this pericope, perhaps the onlookers connect Jesus’ identity to the Son of David on the basis of Isaiah 29:18 and 35:5-6. In addition, this connection between healing and the Son of David may also be attributed to figure of Solomon as indicated in Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 20:30-31. Nonetheless, the onlookers’ question reveals that they inferred Jesus as the Messiah, working by the power of God.
The Pharisees’ response to Jesus exorcism differs from the onlookers. The pericope (selection of text) begins with Jesus contradicting the Pharisees’ authority and undermining their piety. Therefore to explain Jesus’ ability to heal, the Pharisees quickly associate it to Beelzebub. They cannot deny Jesus’ power, but instead they question the source of his power with outlandish allegations that it must be Beelzebub.
In the Old Testament, there is a similar reference to Beelzebul known as the Lord of flies, a Canaanite God. However, by the time of Jesus, the reference identifies Beelzebub and denotes the name of the chief of demons, or Satan. In response to the Pharisees accusation, Jesus corrects their Beelzebub reference to that of Satan. His correction reveals his mission which confronts Satan directly. Jesus states that Satan cannot oppose himself and thereby dividing his kingdom. By being divided, Satan becomes powerless. Jesus not a worker of Satan, in fact, completes the work of God by binding Satan. Jesus expelling of demons demonstrates his forceful attack on the lordship of Satan. This attack which Jesus engages brings about his victory through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus not only emphasizes his authority, but responds to the Pharisees in a manner that continually exposes their lack of understanding of the true power of God and his will.
When Jesus died on the cross, He made a spectacle of the rulers and authorities of the world. He disarmed their power. More importantly, he disarmed the power that sin holds over believers, by nailing sin on the cross. Jesus not only demonstrated his power and authority over sin on the cross, but He continually demonstrated his authority over evil forces throughout his ministry. In both his dealings with the Gedarane Demonic and the Beelzebub Controversy, he reveals his authority and total control over Satan. More specifically, Jesus disarms Satan’s forces and triumphs over them.
