Sequence in Chronology: 10 of 26
Topics Covered: Jesus accused of using Satan's power, parable of divided kingdom given, warning given about unpardonable sin, the Lord refuses to do miracle to prove his authority, Jesus' family visits him in Capernaum, after going to Nain a widow's son is resurrected from the dead.
John the Baptist wonders why he is not out of prison, the people are chastised for their fickleness in rejecting those who serve God, parables of children in the marketplace and wisdom justified by her children are given, cities Jesus preached in are condemned, a sinful woman is forgiven and a religious leader corrected.
Bible References: Matthew 11:2 - 30, 12:24 - 50, Mark 3:22 - 35, Luke 7:11 - 50, 8:19 - 21.
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Did Jesus Use Satan's Power?
Jewish leaders from Jerusalem, while visiting Capernaum, accuse the Lord of being possessed of Beelzebub and using his power to cast out demons.
Then the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub; and by the power of the prince of the demons He is casting out demons." (Mark 3:22, see also Matthew 12:24).
The word Beelzebub is recorded 7 times in 7 King James New Testament verses (Matthew 10:25, 12:24, 27, Mark 3:22, Luke 11:15, 18 - 19). Beelzebub, which means, "dung god" or "lord of the house" (Strong's Concordance #G954), along with "prince of the demons," are references to Satan the devil.
Jesus responds to the accusations against him by giving the parable of a kingdom divided against itself (Mark 3:22 - 27, Matthew 12:24 - 30). In the middle of his discussion he presents his enemies with a pointed question.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? (Matthew 12:27).
The unspoken answer to Jesus' question in Matthew 12:27 is that the sons of the Jewish leaders could NOT cast out demons! There were, in fact, many who dabbled in incantations and pretended to have power over demons but did not (see Acts 19:13 - 17)!
After warning about the unpardonable sin (Mark 3:28 - 30, Matthew 12:31 - 37) some in attendance have the audacity to demand Jesus perform a miracle to prove he is the Messiah! Although their immediate request is rejected, they are offered his death and burial for three full days as proof of who he is.
And He answered and said to them, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
"For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:39 - 40).
Jesus then reveals how bad is the current wicked generation which does not have God as the center of their lives.
"But when the unclean spirit has departed from a man, it goes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house, from which I came out.' And after coming, it finds it unoccupied, swept and set in order.
"Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Likewise shall it also be with this wicked generation." (Matthew 12:43 - 45).
A Family Visit
Jesus' mother and half-brothers, shortly after the above incident, arrive in Capernaum and wish to speak to him. When he is told they are outside his home, unable to come in due to the throng of people, he states that all those who do God's will are his family.
"Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And He (Jesus) looked around at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, and said, "Behold My mother and My brothers; for whoever shall do the will of God, that one is My brother, and My sister, and mother." (Mark 3:33 - 35, see also Matthew 12:46 - 50, Luke 8:19 - 21).
Compassion and Resurrection
Traveling to Nain, Jesus runs into a funeral procession carrying a young man out of the city for burial. The man who died, likely on the same day he was buried, was his widow mother's only son.
And as He (Jesus) drew near to the gate of the city, behold, one who had died was being carried out, an only son to his mother, and she was a widow; and a considerable crowd from the city was with her. (Luke 7:12).
The loss of the Nain widow's only son brought with it far more than mourning the loss of a loved one. Widows usually had to depend on close family members as their only means of support. The death of her son meant the loss of such support including any land he had inherited from his father.
Widows, like the one from Nain, were highly vulnerable to poverty. Their troubles were further compounded by those (including religious Jews who claimed to keep God's laws!) who took advantage of their dire situation (see Matthews 23:14, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47).
Jesus, who knew of the long-term consequences of the loss of her son, felt immense compassion and pity toward the widow. Unlike later resurrections like those of Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:41 - 42) and Lazarus (John 11), Jesus was not asked for his help! He unilaterally decided to mercifully intervene in her life.
And when the Lord saw her, He was moved with compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." And He came up to the bier and touched it, and those who were bearing it stopped. Then He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!"
And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and He gave him to his mother. (Luke 7:13 - 15).
After this resurrection the people acknowledge the Lord is a great prophet.
Then fear seized everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us," and, "God has visited His people." And this report about Him went out into all Judea and all the country around. (Luke 7:16 - 17).
John Has His Doubts
John the Baptist has been stuck in prison (likely at Machaerus located east of the Dead Sea) for more than a year. He, understandably, wonders why the Lord hasn't yet freed him. He sends two of his disciples to ask him a simple question.
And after calling two certain disciples, John sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You He Who was to come, or are we to look for another?" (Luke 7:19).
After they witness many miracles performed they are told by Christ to inform John about what they have seen and heard. The Lord, when the two people leave, confirms to the multitude gathered around him that John was the person prophesied to prepare the way for the Messiah.
"What did you go out into the wilderness to gaze at? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who dress in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in the palaces.
"But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one more excellent than a prophet. This is he concerning whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.' (Luke 7:24 - 27, see also Matthew 11:2 - 15).
Correction and Forgiveness
Jesus castigates his generation for their fickleness and willingness to create contradictory excuses to justify their rejection of those who serve God. He gives the parables of children in the marketplace (Luke 7:31 - 34, Matthew 11:16 - 19) and wisdom justified by her children (Luke 7:35, Matthew 11:19) to illustrate the attitude of his generation.
He also chastises the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for refusing to repent despite the many signs and wonders they experienced.
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that have taken place in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.
"And you, Capernaum, who have been exalted to heaven, shall be cast down to the grave . . ." (Matthew 11:21 - 23).
Jesus then thanks God the Father for revealing His truth to spiritual babes and promises spiritual rest to those who come to him.
At that time Jesus answered and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to babes . . .
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are overly burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:25, 28 - 30).
The Lord, sometime later, while eating at a Pharisees' house, is approached by a sinful but forgiven and grateful woman who humbly washes his feet with her tears and anoints them. The Pharisees' rejection of both the woman and Jesus' divine calling earns him a rebuke (Luke 7:36 - 50).
What About Chorazin?
Interestingly, although Jesus said he performed miracles in Chorazin, it is only mentioned by name in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13. Both these verses were condemnations of the city for their lack of repentance.
Chorazin, whose name means "a furnace of smoke" (Strong's Concordance #G5523), was located northwest of the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum. While it was certainly an important city during Jesus' ministry, not much is known about it or exactly when the Lord visited it.