God’s Chosen Servant
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.
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He warned them not to tell others about him.
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This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
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“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
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He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
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A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
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In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Jesus and Beelzebul
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
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All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
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But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
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Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
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If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
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And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
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But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
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“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
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“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.