In the comparison that Jesus used, Satan is “the strong man.” The one who binds him must be Jesus himself. The fact that Jesus cast out demons demonstrated not only that Jesus and Satan were on opposing sides, but that Jesus had already bound the strong man in a fundamental sense. Yet a more complete triumph over Satan was yet to come. Satan received defeat when Jesus received “all authority” (Matt. 28:18). A similar point is made in Colossians 2:15: He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put