Jesus: Popular, Powerful, or ... Possessed?

No doubt Jesus was powerful and popular. He had been casting out demons in the synagogue, healing the sick from fevers and leprosy, hanging out with the tax collectors and sinners, and basically declaring war on the religious establishment of his day. What was their response? "He must be demon possessed!" Jesus uses a short parable to explain how spiritually blinded the teachers of the law are. They see the work of God and call it evil. Today we put ourselves in danger if we continually see the work of God and attribute it to Satan. Jesus did not leave us the option of thinking he was simply a good moral teacher or an inspiring leader. As C.S. Lewis said, we must see him as either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. Anything else is patronizing nonsense.