Do You Bind Jesus? or Does Jesus Bind the Demonic Around You?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
As we use this gospel of Mark, for a return to in person Church gospel, as we use it to navigate a most unusual year of not only pandemic, but things like Black Lives Matter, things like abuse, however well intentioned governments and churches may have been - of residential schools. As you have had to navigate much great time of aloneness and confronted with your self and those you live with more closely. And I am sure that their have been moments perhaps of heightened awareness - of the unseen realm, the spiritual realm - real wickedness and the influences behind it that don’t come out of no wear, and which have hijacked not just our individual lives, but our society. And I also hope you have had more intense times of awareness that there is a God that His Son Jesus is alive and at work - saving and transforming by the power of His Spirit. This year has been an opportunity to see the world through supernatural glasses, just like those of you who have stood on the threshold of life and death in this year, at graveside, or bedside.Just like at moment receive babies this year - just know unseen realm at work
Well, congregation to understand Jesus Mark, the very first gospel says, can’t do it with out also seeing the world through glasses - With Jesus God speak from heaven, Holy Spirit descends and the promise of that Spirit baptizing you and me. Jesus ministry then immediately swept into action as the Spirit drives him out in tho the wilderness - whole gospel remember a trial with Satan. And it is unavoidable not only that he will encounter and cast out unclean spirits from individuals in spiritual bondage, - from his first miracle, hand in hand with his Preaching the Word of God in synaggoue - he casts out a demon; But that He also explains His hwole ministry as defeating the Prince of Demons, Satan himself and plundering His house, his kingdom. And we today are left asking, how did Jesus, Son of God cast out the demoinic and how now does He continue to to that in our world in our lives. John says that’s whole reason Jesus came: 1 Jn 3:8
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
That is the central part of our text - Jesus parable about Him binding Satan, and Mark sandwiches that parable between his close ‘friends’ and then his own mother and brothers seeking to bind and stop Jesus. They want to tame him down, bind him to fit into their nice tidy lives, blind to the spiritual realm. And that opposition of people, like you and me, crowds, Peter, disciples, to Jesus spiritual program is as much a part of the part of Mark’s gospel, as the opposition of the scribes and Pharisees. And you and I need to ask ourselves, do I too want to tame down Jesus, keep him from doing His spiritual work in my life. There are versions of Jesus - like the moral Jesus, the Social Justice Jesus, the Jesus is my boyfriend. What cultural observes have said is the Jesus of the Therapeutic gospel. Jesus doesn’t deal with sin and evil, with the devil. His concern isn’t with our acceptance and adoption by God the Father and work in His Kingdom. No the Therapeutic Jesus just deals with giving you perosnal peace, preoccupied with guilt feelings, him making life easy and the best for you now. But if we will brave enough to meet the real Jesus we’ll also see that following Him involves keeping these spiritual x-ray glasses on that enable us to see - the work of the Devil and the work of the Real Jesus in our lives!
A. Where Jesus takes on Satan’s Kingdom of Darkness
A. Where Jesus takes on Satan’s Kingdom of Darkness
Mark sets the scene for Jesus’ mission to take down Satan and His kingdom, by linking it with two events that should help us understand Jesus engagement with the evil around us. The first events focus more generally where Jesus was preaching, with healing and casting out demons. And the second event helps us to understand Jesus mission to take on Satan and re-gain control of Satan’s territory in our world and our lives, with the specific event of calling and commissioning his 12. Look at the general event first in Mark 3:11
And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
And while you may not be able to relate to unclean spirits (I’ve only seen someone try to do this once, though heard reports on mission field), and though there does seem to be concentrations of outward demonic attack and confrontation in times of big change in God working salvation, I hope you see the major point Mark is underlining isn’t the shocking healing of someone possessed and out of their minds so to speak, and then they are healed and the focus is on the healing. No, healing quite separate. And what is the focus here? This was happening often and each time Mark describes something that can’t be seen with the eye, unless the demoniac bowing with the spirit two. But Mark starkly says the big deal is each time the demons, not only recognize the one casting them out as the very Son of God - but what do they do before this Jesus, Son of God Incarnate sent to be King of God’s Kingdom on earth? They fall down before him. They following Satan from early dawn of Creation been diametrically opposed to God’s plan with humanity and working cross purposes in this world - but now the Messiah King has appeared, one to Whom God committed to make salvation on earth, but also final judgment - and they in this region of their kingdom of darkness on earth - recognize the King and they bow. And where is this happening again and again and again?
And this is only recorded in the gospel of Mark as he writes for Gentiles, in the Roman Empire. Mark alone records that this conquest of demonic territory in this world, happening by preaching, healing, casting out demons - it doesn’t just happen in Galilee and hometown centre of operation Capernaum, which was the Cross roads of the region ,where kingdoms of Herod and Rome met, where trade routes in to Philippi Caesarea and West to Gentile cities Tyre and Sidon 120 miles up but on the coast sea faring folk, like 90% non Jewish. And where else Idumea - 50 miles south of Judea. This was the nation the Herod’s where from, not Jews but from Esau - Edomites! Later in history forced to keep Jewish laws, but rich traders with little land and no great armies, struck an alliance with Rome which is how the Herod became kings in the region. Why he and they were hated outsiders. And Mark is recording yes salvation is from the Jews, and we are grafted into Israel, but right from the beginning Jesus was showing - the battle he came to win, the territory spiritually he claimed and won back to God - was first for the Jews but then also and miraculously with the Gentile the outsiders. And though the crowds may just be coming for healings, and demon exorcisms - though they crowd/literally crush him - still Here is Jesus in thise areas preaching and validating his Word from God with these miracles and the picture is that He is subduing the demonic world to his authority, His kingdom. The crowds and the not even the discipes get who He is is.but the demons do and look what Jesus does to them: Mark 3:12
And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
Unique word, strictly ordered, used in the LXX of God sovereignly commanding the waves and the sea in the Exodus. Word used in the OT of God commanding demons in Zechariah 3:2
And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
Do you get it? Where Jesus comes close, where people receive Him and his teaching, the demons can’t co-exist in the same space - evil and Satanic influence incompatible with the reign of Christ! All must confess His name, every knee will bow one day, every tongue will confess His name, but as w sing the greatest treasure remains for those who freely choose him now! And that brings us to the specific event
B. The Calling of the 12 spells out the Jesus-program. .
B. The Calling of the 12 spells out the Jesus-program. .
Some like the two brothers Peter and Andrew and James and John, like Levi following after Jesus as their Rabbi for a while. But this specific event of the Messiah calling , drawing , and appointing 12 apostles tells us much about Jesus mission. A careful reader of the Bible will recognize that the numbers 3, 7, 10 hugely significant in the Jewish world -deep symbolic meaning. But the number 12 actually quite rare, except as it refers to the 12 sons from which 12 tribes of Israel the compete kingdom of God is formed. And a 1st century reader would also find it quite strange that this Rabbi didn’t accept a bunch of disciples who scrolling through all available spiritual teachers, just right swiped and clicked this Rabbi Jesus. No look at Mark’s wording: Mark 3:13
And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.
Isn’t it remarkable that they didn’t chose Jesus, but Jesus chose them - and why he desired them. And they are nobodies in Israeli society, and they are so different in background, political and religious make-up but he summons them up a mountain, like God turning Israel into a nation at Mt. Sinai. Now, I know you and I haven’t been called to be an apostle - but have you heard the Messiah Sovereign call? To follow him to join him, receive him? He does not call these 12 or you or I, because of our rank and skill and knowledge or income, but simply because He loves you with an eternal love - unconditioned upon anything you are or have done!
But look what he does next. Mark 3:14a
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
And he named each one of them, even some with a nick name. And do you know what Mark is alluding to here? That word appointed poiew its the word to create like an artist a craftsman - and its the word of Gen 1 in the LXX. God appoints, poiew like a poem a masterpiece - he appoints light and darkness, appoints sky and sea, appoints land and vegetation, appoints… Then he names them. Do you see Mark’s point: Jesus the Son of God comes into this world and He is engaging in the work of a new creation. But the ones He is re-making and the ones he is giving name - aren’t physical objects - but embodied persons.
And in the case of these 12, he designates them the shelach’s of that new creation the kingdom of God the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Technical terms for power of attorney - in Jesus stead trained to represent and work out his kingdom. And what are they commissioned to do - this in not just for them , but for all who hear the Sovereign Call of Jesus in their lives. The first one will surprise you: Mark 3:14b be with him
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
When we are born into a world under the dominion of spiritual darkness, deceived by the Liar, and not just to do heinous evil, but the heart of Satan’s Deception, his plan in this world deceive the nations, hordes. whole mass of humanity to live without God and hope in this world! And the first thing that Jesus does in calling people unto Himself into the Kingdom of his light is just that they might be with him. I really believe it that every other religion and philosophy in this world - starts with you and me doing differently, thinking differently, feeling differently - works-righteousness its not what God does and has s done, but what we do!
Do you understand what wrecked this world, the first creation? Gen 3:4-5 Satan got us to substitute false God for the true God. Whether self, or pleasure, or money, or success, or perfect home or family, work, pride of being your own God - But the sum of it is that we put ourselves or another lesser created thing in the place of God in our lives. The substance of sin is relational! Just like the substance of grace in not some spiritual substance or knowledge, grace like sin is relational! Those twelve forsaking all their human idols, in order to honour the true God, put him back at the center That’s how Jesus recovers the image of God in us. And its done simply by being with Jesus. This is the profound mystery of discipleship . When you are with Jesus, his person his work - that determined the community of the 12 even like Jesus person and work determines our community here!
The first part of this commission be with JESUS - and then it is that He commissions them, and we the whole church with them - to announce , publically proclaim the gospel - word used only once of Jesus as beginning, all the rest teaches. but he sends us His church to officially and privately preach and proclaim the gospel. And with that with these twelve, Jesus authenticate their message with the ability cast out demons. The end of the gospel see why only apostles sent like this. Even with the ability to heal and handle deadly serpents. But for now notice, that the Messiah speaking truth, driving out evil and sin. For now, notice what comes with the commission. This is also the paradigm for gospel ministry in your life and home and us doing in-person-church: the spending time with Jesus and the verbal proclamation, and then: Mark 3:15
and have authority to cast out demons.
There is the paradigm: 1. Spend time in worship, fellowship, learning with Jesus. but then 2. can’t keep it to themselves share it with others- perosnal witness to those you live with, to fellow Christian, and also non-Christians around you - need you sharing. But then 3. not just talk, then go out into Satan’s territory in this world action that stops Satan’s influence. In Mark’s day, in Rome they were setting out unwanted babies to die on the streets of exposure, kind of like abortion of our day. But the Satanic twist like our day - those vulnerable kids snatched up so many became slaves and like our day snatched up into the sex trade. And the OT said Messiah would come and the sign would be that he subdues the power of the devil. These exorcism symbolically show Jesus’ force and the practical effect of His kingdom. And I need to ask us, do we not only stand for the gospel, but also against the demonic and evil powers of our world in action? Do you understand why at the end of the gospel of Mark, like the Testament of Levi - Jesus says to the 12 as representatives of his church through the ages, give you the power to trample on the serpents! Do you get that as we participate in the gospel like that Jesus is truly fulfilling his Mission as the Suffering Servant who sets free those in captivity to Satanic power. Here is the One is mightier than the John the Baptist and He is plundering Satan’s house.
Think of Wilberforce over life time ending Slavery, or William Carey A ending practice of Sati, of burning widows on pier India, or L Shaftesburry putting an end to cruel child abuse in mines , think of Thomas Chalmers in that same time period establishing public education , not government , but children all given right to learn and read and write, Jesus changing the head of the house in our world from Satan to him. Why prison minsitry, addictions ministry, ministry among the homeless, politically active Christian citizens in a culture denies dignity and sanctify of life. Jesus is ransacking and vanquishing Satanic influence in this world, in part through his Church at mission!
So many churches and Christians only want to major in one of those areas, but the oder is important to - be with Jesus is the source, and the Word brings the transformation, but the obedience of going out into the darkness and shining the light, actions of loving service and healing . But the Messiah showing up and people spending time with him, also creates an opposite reaction! When your interest isn't a mild maybe I will check out Jesus, but when God calls and draw you to Him - the question is no longer what will I make of Jesus? But what will Jesus make of me, his disciple? And that is the significance of the number 12, Jesus makes them into the new Israel the community of the gospel for the world!
People are mobbing Jesus, can’t get enough of him. But then look Mark 3:21
And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
A general word for those close to him, not necessarily family, but more general those close to him. Imagine cousins, neighbours, as well as immediate family those from Nazareth, they are saying: our Jesus is claiming too much. We aren’t going to see the world through spiritual lens of good and evil and of God-breaking in with New Creation. Jesus - cool your jets, and settle for a little bit of religion and morality and spirituality , but let’s not get carried away here. And they want to bind Jesus, to constrict him to fit in to their daily lives in way that doesn’t rock the boat, doesn’t expose evil and sin, and open the possibility of new world!
This is indeed that gets us to the very heart of Jesus teaching to us today. The scribes come by and say we know you really teach and we know you really heal and we know you really cast out demons, but it has nothing to do with our religion and our church circle, we don’t want any part of that, we are going to call that kind of fanaticism of the devil! And just look how Jesus responds? Is spending time with Jesus, is knowing and sharing His Word, is going into the evils of this world and with action seeking to transform that influence for God - is that fanaticism and demonic - while doing church in a way that doesn’t really change us and isn’t really spending time with Jesus is that good wholesome religion. Jesus tells one of his most powerful stories to answer! And the one line point is this:
C. We don’t Bind Jesus. He Binds The Prince of Demons For Us
C. We don’t Bind Jesus. He Binds The Prince of Demons For Us
At first Jesus only points out the absurdity of his work being in line with Satan’s work. Jesus does the works of God, He really speaks the Word of God like no one else. Of course a kingdom divided in purpose can’t stand. And calls the Prince of Demons, Beelzebub - not only a prince of a dynasty - how the Bible describes Satan leading a host of other demons in this world against God and his purposes, but Jesus also call Beelzebub the Master and Householder of a big house. an economy. A kingdom. And this is Jesus main point: Mark 3:27
But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Do you know what the Son of David was promised? David wanted to build a house a temple of the LORD. But God says you can’t build a kingdom, a dynasty to rival Satan’s David. But I will build you a house, I will give you son and He will sit on the throne of that House, that kingdom and He will reign forever bring reace and deliverance like never before!
Why is this Jewish Rabbi Jesus going to Tyre and Sidon, why to Idumean people? Why is the turning point of the gospel in Caesarea Philippi - the entrance to the underworld, gates of Hades - It’s because Jesus is going into Satan's house, his kingdom, what the NT calls the kingdom of darkness, and He by His gospel, now sent out with 12 and the church they establish - to bind Satan, tie him up - understand when God’s Word the gospel proclaimed and believe - Satan is ham-stringed! Darkness flees and tries to hide. This is the work and mission of Jesus that religion , your learning or obedience, or moral living could never do.
Jesus life and death was binding the strong man, Satan. What is described in revelation too - look at the focus of what the dragon Satan’s goal in the lasts days is, and what Jesus has done to him in the last days: Rev 20:2-3
And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
In this period, Satan, tried to deceive the nations, to get you and people around to live for self and pleasure and just this world and to live without God - but Jesus by His gospel , and triumph on the Cross - he’s defeated Satan's’ power to deceive God elect. Col 2:14-15
by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Jesus work now finished is not just forgiving your sins, but He disarms the demons and their ultimate authority Satan - and as his gospel gets applied more and more in this world and in your life - Jesus is triumphing over demonic and Satanic power in our lives, homes, our church and our world! In Jesus words, as we live with Him as Lord and Light as spend time with Him, receive and share his gospel and act with kingdom love and service - guess what we are doing in our little region starting from your home to hear, to place of work - plundering Satan’s house - and turning it to Christ’s reign and rule and territory.
And that brings us to the pointed question about for whom is this plundering of Satan’s house for. This is the who question that jesus ends our text with.
D. The Unforgivable Sin is Not the Unbelief of those Around Us
D. The Unforgivable Sin is Not the Unbelief of those Around Us
Binding of Satan cannot be for those Who Call Jesus Satanic in His Church, but it is even for those who have tried to bind Jesus in their lives! Jesus says in v.32 of those who openly and within His covenant community call him and His work Satanic you are falling into the category of those who grossly fight against the Holy Spirit so much taht they with in the church says the work of the Son of God is from an unclean spirit. This a very specific sin of which we can say someone fights against Jesus works and words so much that they say Jesus and His stuff is of the deveil and they say it with no contrition and repeatedly. But my point is not to take up that difficult topic in a few short minutes, but don’t lose the good news that Jesus is speaking to you and me in this passage: Mark 3:28
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,
If you have ever wondered whether you have committed this sin, the very sign that you are concerned about it mean s you cannot have possibly commited it. You are not against Jesus not without contrition declaring Jesus unclean and his whole business not of the Spirit of holiness but of the heinous rotten work of the devil. And so do you really receive that good news, that as you recognize Jesus as you respond to his call - all manners of sins will be forgiven - including those that linger in your memory and conscience, and Satan whispers not good enough.
Mark doesn’t use the usual word for sin with win against the Holy Ghost - not acts and all wrongful deeds, but speaks of the nature and motive - the very heart of sin. And this is an eternal sin in its consequences. When you are content to have evil be your God . A warning not as a condemnation of we who doubt but still would live near to Jesus, or a cause for anxiety. Even for those not living near Jesus like mother and brothers at that time still hope, even though blood ties won’t do it. It is a reminder that there are two kinds of people: those who sit on the inside at Jesus feet, and those who stand on the outside with false assumptions. If warning needed within the holy family, how much more for those today growing up with just a cultural Christianity - this is a call to true discipleship.
But Listen every sin against the Son and the Father all can be forgiven. But the unforgivable sin is this deliberate one against the testimony of the Holy Spirit about Jesus. To call him Satanic from within his very church. But Jesus rises to the height of NT Pronouncement as says AMEN TRULY I THE LORD GOD SAY… ALL SINS CAN BE FORGIVEN IN CHRIST!
Oh, who is Jesus plundering Satan for? Why is Jesus going to His people from Capernaum to Tyre and Sidon, down to Idumea and today down the roads from Barrie that lead to your home? Wh is this conquering of Satan accomplished for? I think that is why Mark puts the story of his very mother and brothers coming to stand against them. They are sinning, they are the very ones who say simmer down and tone it down. We don’t want you as our Messiah, just be a little religious. And they though they are blood relations are not in the deepest sense mother and brother to Jesus. And yet all who belive are: Mark 3:35
For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Do you see in this new creation Jesus radically transforms family, and the closest family you’ve got are those indwelt by the Spirit of jesus who are in this community. Great when both. But is this not the hope of the gospel, those who haven’t turned to Jesus haven’t committed, unbelief of family and neighbours isn’t the unforgiveable sin. Can never write them off. Imagine if it were your son going around like the Messiah or your brother. Would you have belived him? But the gospel s so carefully record their story wasn’t over - dear Mary, the mother of our Lord is converted later and is in that circle of the 120 awaiting Pentecost - follows Joh in ministry even to Ephesus. Jesus very brothers didn’t believe at first - but wow - listen carefully - his half brother James later got it and wrote that Epistles that Rev Bierman will finish preaching to you.
For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
I remember like yesterday, visiting with a believing wife and an unbelieving husband - discussing some of the objections to Christianity - but hadn’t met living Jesus! I remember a sister-in-law later saying to me - i am praying and praying for him, and if that man every becomes a Christian - used powerfully.