Bind the Strong Man First (Pt. 1)

It has been said that the 1,000 year reign as spoken of in Revelation 20, and commonly called The Millennium, is a thousand years of peace that everyone loves to argue about. And oh isn’t that true. Christians of the West not only like to argue about it but do so often and in groups. If you want to sell out a conference all you need do is advertise that an “End Time” topic…such as The Millennium, will be the subject of the conference

Now this is the direction we will be going over the month of March. However, if you are that “End Times” guru and are currently geeking out at the thought of four weeks about Revelation 20…hold your horses. We are going to get to the twentieth chapter of Revelation (which is also three chapters from the end of the Bible). But first we need some information from what precedes Revelation.

As I began to speak specifically to the nature and timing of the kingdom I wrote and explained that I would use Mark as a base point. We have seen the Kingdom Parables along with Jesus’ miracles which display his kingly authority. One of the miracles he preformed was the casting out of hundreds if not thousands of demons who were oppressing a man (Mark 5). This is one instance, though notable, along with many others. The work of Jesus casting out demons is noticed by the scribes in Mark 3. In this text a key teaching occurs from Jesus’ lips which help us understand the reign of Jesus.

Over the course of this post and the next we will use Mark 3 as a starting point. This week we will look at both the conversation between the scribes and Jesus, as well as the correction Jesus gives.

Mark 3

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 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.

Mark 3:22-27

Scribes Struggling

The scribes who were a part of the religious leadership in Jesus’ day had already opposed him on a number of occasions (2:1-3:6). All of their attempts ended in failure…which is to be expected when you are trying to out do God in flesh…and make the Author of scripture appear ignorant of scripture.

Well here they come again. They do not deny Jesus’ ability to cast out demons, nor the fact that he has acted out on that ability. This time they try to discredit him by slander: You use the devil’s power in your work. Although we do not have an exact meaning for ‘beelzebul’ we can safely conclude it is in connection to the demonic: 1) The context supports such an understanding; 2) ‘beelzebul’ closely relates to ancient words that did have demonic ties. So again the scribes are telling the crowds that Jesus is working out of demonic power.

Jesus corrects and clarifies in two ways.

Christ Correcting

I quite enjoy watching debates. One of my favorite parts of a debate is when one side points out a weak point in the oppositions argument. It seems to be the fun and function of a debate is pointing out the other sides inconsistency.

Part of me wishes I could see Jesus on a debate stage opposite the scribes and pharisees, but then again, that is pretty much what we have here. Jesus first corrects the unreasonable argument put forward by the scribes.

“How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.

Mark 3:23-26

A country, family, or army can’t plan to succeed if they are fighting amid themselves. Jesus uses the idea of divided kingdoms and houses to put forward the problem of the scribes statement: Why would Satan empower Jesus to undo the work he has been doing? It makes no sense. Now that Jesus has pointed out the faulty argument of the scribes he brings clarification to the situation.

Christ Clarifying

It is here in Jesus’ explanation of what he is doing that we begin to get some information which informs our thinking about the kingdom of God. We read:

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.

Mark 3:27

Jesus is telling the leaders that his work of casting out demons, overthrowing their strong hold in the land and people’s lives, is the work of ‘binding’ Satan (the strong man).

Satan who is the prince of this world had to be dealt with by the Savior of this world. Christ came to rescue and redeem creation. A part of his work is setting it free from the oppression of the demonic. The casting out of demons is the demonstration of the great authority of Christ. This becomes more clear in 5:1-20 when exorcism is mentioned by Mark intentionally as an example of Jesus’ kingship. Let me put it another way using the words of Luke:

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.

Luke 11:19-22

We are faced with the question: is the work of Jesus by the finger of God or the power of Satan? If we rightly conclude that Jesus worked by the will of God then we see that in his work the presence of the Kingdom has begun to arrive. Luke says the same thing that Mark does, yet it seems more straightforward than Mark’s writing. The reason it seems more explicit is that Luke composed his book in such a way as to be read by those who had not been raised in the Jewish community and heavily exposed to the Old Testament.

Another example of such a clear statement from Luke comes one chapter earlier:

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Luke 10:17-19

When the disciples return from evangelizing Jesus explains what is happening behind the scenes. The going forth of the gospel by preaching not only leads to conversions but also continues the conquering of the Devil.

I point our attention to texts like these, and namely Mark 3, so that we might consider: What was altered in the ability of Satan at Christ’s first coming? We will look at three similar texts next week.

Conclusion

To be clear these next few blogs are moving us closer to Revelation 20, one of, if not the most explicit texts on the 1,000 year reign. I will tip my hand here that I hold to the view known as ‘amillennial’ (that is that the reign of Revelation 20 is happening between the ascension and return of Christ. I will explain my reasons in the next few posts. But for now I put forward this text regarding Jesus binding the strong man for the purpose of asking those who hold the view of the reign being future: Is this binding of Mark 3 altogether different from that of Revelation 20? Is Satan going to be bound at different times and in different ways?

In the next post we will look at Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8 and ask ourselves if the work Jesus does in these texts is altogether distinct from the work of Revelation 20.

Two Applications:

1. Regardless of your perspective on whether or not the events of Mark 3 are at all tied to what is spoken of in Revelation 20:1-6, you can be glad for what the text in and of itself teaches us. The freedom to oppress and abuse that the demonic once had has been limited to a degree in Christ’ first coming. Satan’s power is not what it was. This gives hope. This emboldens us. In Christ’s work our hearts are strengthened. Step out today, move forward in your day knowing that Jesus has done a mighty work. He that is in us is greater than he who is in the world. Namely, serve your church, love your neighbor, evangelize the lost with the confidence that Satan’s power to oppress began to be bound by Christ 2,000 years ago.
2. Allow yourself to revisit what you believe about the 1,000 years reign of Christ. I hope to pose thought provoking questions and ideas. When we review what we believe about a given part of the Bible we need not fear. It’s good to ask: Is what I believe based on what the Bible says or on what I’ve always been taught? I have had those wrestlings with this topic, creation, baptism, etc. If our understanding on a particular doctrine is purified by scripture it will be true to scripture. In saying that, please know that this is not a set up for me to “enlighten” you. What you will see in the coming weeks is more questions that I wrestle with and not so much conclusions I have rested on. Let’s be challenged together.