And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Many who heard Jesus dismissed Him as having a devil and being mad, and asked why anyone should listen to Him. They used the charge to reject hearing Him and to justify ignoring His words, showing rejection of His teaching and failure to recognize Him as the true Shepherd. The charge came from the priests and Pharisees and Jewish leaders, who scorned Jesus as a deceiver in order to keep people from hearing Him. It was joined to attributing His wonderful miracles to Beelzebub the prince of devils.
The accusation sprang from unbelief in His mission and work. It was led by Satan the prince of darkness as part of the whole energy of apostasy directed against God's Champion and His truth. Wherever the Lord works with truth of heavenly origin the enemy stirs up his forces to divert minds from considering it. The accusation did not make His words merely human and does not disprove the truth of the message or the divine work entrusted to a messenger of God. Christ spoke in human nature united with divinity with heaven-sent warnings against indifference and continued sin, and His words and works, including opening the eyes of the blind, did not come from a demon, in contrast to the hostility of His accusers.
Jesus endured this insult, mockery, reproach and false accusation. His experience shows He understands the pain of being misunderstood and falsely represented. Those who believe His words, follow in His footsteps, testify plainly against sin, and present truth will likewise not escape the enmity of Satan and the world. They will face the same kind of reproach from men of the same character, being called weak, foolish, insane, deceivers, devils and wolves in sheep's clothing, as when Luther's enemies accused him of being possessed by a devil. Those so condemned are in good company with the Prince of life and should not be discouraged nor turn aside to save themselves but hold to truth and nothing but truth and direct people to Jesus.
This same spirit appears wherever truth is presented, using violent language against those presenting it. At the same time the Holy Spirit moves upon consciences, shines into the chambers of mind and heart, accompanies believers, comforts those who decide to obey, and makes the words spoken efficient.
Many who heard Jesus dismissed Him as having a devil and being mad, and asked why anyone should listen to Him. They used the charge to reject hearing Him and to justify ignoring His words, showing rejection of His teaching and failure to recognize Him as the true Shepherd. The charge came from the priests and Pharisees and Jewish leaders, who scorned Jesus as a deceiver in order to keep people from hearing Him. It was joined to attributing His wonderful miracles to Beelzebub the prince of devils.
The accusation sprang from unbelief in His mission and work. It was led by Satan the prince of darkness as part of the whole energy of apostasy directed against God's Champion and His truth. Wherever the Lord works with truth of heavenly origin the enemy stirs up his forces to divert minds from considering it. The accusation did not make His words merely human and does not disprove the truth of the message or the divine work entrusted to a messenger of God. Christ spoke in human nature united with divinity with heaven-sent warnings against indifference and continued sin, and His words and works, including opening the eyes of the blind, did not come from a demon, in contrast to the hostility of His accusers.
Jesus endured this insult, mockery, reproach and false accusation. His experience shows He understands the pain of being misunderstood and falsely represented. Those who believe His words, follow in His footsteps, testify plainly against sin, and present truth will likewise not escape the enmity of Satan and the world. They will face the same kind of reproach from men of the same character, being called weak, foolish, insane, deceivers, devils and wolves in sheep's clothing, as when Luther's enemies accused him of being possessed by a devil. Those so condemned are in good company with the Prince of life and should not be discouraged nor turn aside to save themselves but hold to truth and nothing but truth and direct people to Jesus.
This same spirit appears wherever truth is presented, using violent language against those presenting it. At the same time the Holy Spirit moves upon consciences, shines into the chambers of mind and heart, accompanies believers, comforts those who decide to obey, and makes the words spoken efficient.