Satan Rising Up Against Himself - Mark 3:26

Mark wrote how, “the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casts he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand”, and in chapter three and verse twenty-six of his book, Mark shares what Jesus said happens, “if Satan rise up against himself” where we read:

And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.

The verse reads, “And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, ...” Mark began with the words, “and if Satan” or “and whether Satan who is the the prince of evil spirits and the inveterate adversary of God and Christ” “rise up against himself” or “be raised and stand in opposition to his own self”, “and be divided” which means “and be separated into parts, divided into parties and split into factions”. Mark shared how Jesus presented the idea of “Satan” being “split and divided” into different “parts and factions”.

The verse continues, “... he cannot stand, but has an end. Mark added the words “he” which refers to “Satan” “cannot stand” or “would in no way or never be able to made firm, fixed or established”, “but has” or “nonetheless, nevertheless and moreover owns, possesses and holds” “an end” which means “a termination and limit at which he ceases to be”. Mark shared how Jesus said if “Satan” opposed himself, he would be unable to be “fixed and established” and would certainly be “terminated, limited and concluded”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how the notion of Jesus being filled with “Satan” was shown foolish by Jesus as He told the “scribes” “Satan” being against himself would not allow him to “stand” and would certainly “end” him. “Satan's” desire is to take as many people with him and toward his way as possible before Jesus comes again, and God desires to combat that idea with a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will not only yield themselves to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, but will also submit to the only One whose “Kingdom” is forever and ever.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus talks about “binding the strong man”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".