“And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” ” (Mark 3:22, ESV)
There is a mistaken view abroad that if only we saw the undisputed miracles of Jesus we would believe―or believe more. The scribes, however, have seen precisely such evidence ― but they do not believe. Faith, in other words, is not an automatic, inevitable, or necessary consequence of witnessing the acts of God. The words and deeds of Jesus are indeed evidence of God’s presence, but the evidence demands a decision from the beholder as to its source and significance. Faith judges that the person and work of Jesus stand in continuity with the character of God and hence have saving significance; disbelief judges that the person and work of Jesus derive not from God but, as the scribes suggest in this instance, from the devil.–James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark, The Pillar NT Commentary, pp. 119-120
