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Evidence ID: HIS-EV50

Evidence: Jesus Rebuts Claims that His Authority & Power are from Satan

Summary: In the gospel accounts, Jesus is accused by the scribes and Pharisees of obtaining his power to perform miracles from Satan. Jesus rebuts their claims by stating that Satan cannot cast out his own demons. If he did, his kingdom would not survive due to internal rebellion.

Jesus claims that his power is absolute and therefore his power is superior to Satan's. Jesus states that his authoritative teachings and powerful miracles are proof that he was sent by the Father, not by Satan.

Description: In each of the gospel accounts, Jesus is accused by the scribes and Pharisees of obtaining his authority and power to perform miracles from Satan. The Jews deduce that because Jesus blasphemes God (Third Commandment) and violates the Sabbath (Forth Commandment) (John 9:16), he must be evil.

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the scribes and the Pharisees accuse Jesus of colluding with Satan.

But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." (Matthew 9:34)

Jesus responds to this accusation.

But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. (Matthew 12:24-29 NLT, Mark 9:32-34, Luke 11:14-15)

In this account Jesus argues that Satan cannot be casting out his own demons. If he did, his kingdom would not survive due to internal rebellion. Rather, Jesus claims that his power is superior to Satan's and that only he has the power to bind and destroy Satan.

Because Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and claimed equality with God, the Jews sought to kill him. Jesus responded to their outrage (John 5) by stating that his authority and power comes from God the Father.

So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.

"If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true. In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you. (John 5:19-38 NLT)

In this account, Jesus states that his authoritative teachings and powerful miracles are proof that he was sent by the Father.