How the Baby Jesus wants Longshort to deal with demons like "Satan"--ooooooohhhh!!
What Did Jesus Say About Satan?
by Wayne Blank
Originally known as Lucifer, meaning Light Bringer (in earlier times, matches were sometimes known as "lucifers"), the once-obedient angel, through his own foolish choice to rebel against God, became known as Satan, meaning adversary (see Did God Create The Devil?). As the Messiah's own words make plain, there is nothing good that can be said about Satan.
Dragon What Jesus Said About Satan
During His human lifetime, Jesus Christ was very clear in describing what Satan is and how he operates.
"And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." (Luke 10:18 RSV)
"Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear" (Matthew 13:36-43 RSV) [see When Angels Will Do The Weeding]
"Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out [see What Satan Fears Most]; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:31-32 RSV)
"Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:43-44 RSV) (see Satan's Language)
"When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart" (Matthew 13:19 RSV)
"But when the Pharisees heard it they said, "It is only by Beelzebul [Baalzebub (Hebrew) or Beelzebul (Greek) means lord of the flies], the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." Knowing their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand; and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Matthew 12:24-28 RSV)
Fact Finder: Although Satan is often symbolized as an evil-looking snake or dragon, does he actually, and falsely, appear righteous? |
