The Finger of God

Introduction

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He knows what is waiting for him. A crowd follows him. There are always people around. Jesus teaches. He heals the sick. He calls for those around him to accept him as God’s representative. It is a hard life. He isn’t calling folks to follow him to political and military victory. He is calling for a spiritual victory. But few understand. The motives of those who surround Jesus are questionable—curiosity, fascination, power. Few have faith. And their faith is misplaced.

For Luke as he writes, he is giving ample opportunity for one of two things to happen. Those who read his account and have already decided to walk with Jesus will be strengthened in their faith. They will realize that the decision they made was the right decision. Others may read this account and not be fully convinced about Jesus. They may be reading and trying to learn about this one who died and claims to be resurrected. There are numerous times when Luke gives the unbeliever an opportunity to decide to walk with Jesus. Today’s text is such a place. As we might say it is a time for a reader to cut bait or fish. It is time to say “I believe” or a time to say “No.” For those who have decided to walk with Jesus, today will help you see that you made the right decision. For those who have not yet decided, you will be called upon to decide.

Satan or God

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. Along the way he encounters a man who is unable to speak. Luke tells us that he cannot speak because he is possessed by a demon spirit. Without getting into the work of demons, suffice it to say that there seems to be a cycle to demon possession in biblical history. Part of that cycle occurs during the ministry of Jesus and his disciples after the establishing of the church. Jesus heals this man. He drives the evil spirit from the man. He does this publicly. His action left the crowd amazed. But not amazed in a completely positive way. In fact, there are some who question his authority to do what he just did. They do not want to attribute his work to God and instead attribute his power to Satan.

Jesus questions their logic. He gives three reasons why their thinking is flawed. The first is found in verses 17-18. If he is casting out demons by the power of Satan, then it stands to reason that Satan would be fighting against himself. Such actions would eventually lead to Satan’s downfall. He can’t possibly do his work by the power of Satan because driving out the evil spirit would defeat Satan’s purposes.

The second reason is found in verse 19. How do you explain how others are driving out demons? By what authority do they drive out demons? Would you also attribute their power to Satan or are you willing to admit that it is by God’s power? To be consistent they would have to say that others would do their work by the power of Satan as well. Jesus says that the others who are driving out demons will be sufficient judges. Jesus either means that their work is proof enough of God’s presence and power or he means that they have more faith than those questioning him and will judge the unbelievers. Either intent is possible.

The third reason is found in verses 21-22. In this text, Satan is the strong man and Jesus is the stronger man. The point of the argument is that Jesus, as the stronger man is able to dislodge the evil spirit so that the man is healed. He, Jesus, is able to overcome the power of Satan in healing the man. Satan is depicted as extremely powerful, but Jesus has greater power and that power must come from one who is greater than Satan—God. He fleshes out this point in verses 24-26 with a story of an evil spirit who is forced from a person. The evil spirit searches for a new dwelling and decides to return to the initial host. The evil spirit finds that while the host is now clean but has not prepared himself to remain clean. The evil spirit along with seven other more evil spirits occupy the man a second time. The man is in worse shape than before. Jesus’s point is really very easy. The reason he cannot work by the power of Satan is because he came to heal and cleanse. Only evil spirits try to do otherwise.

Let’s Reason

Logically, Jesus has silenced his objectors. He ends this particular section with verse 28. Rather than praising my mother, what needs to be done is for those who hear my words to obey them. C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity, writes this when describing one who wants to say that Jesus is just a great teacher: “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.” Lewis continues: “you can shut Him (Jesus) for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

No he didn’t leave us with too many options. Notice in verse 20 that Jesus uses a phrase which is found only in the Old Testament. This phrase refers back to Exodus 8:19. Moses and Aaron are standing before Pharaoh. The demand has been made for Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Pharaoh has refused. Two plagues have already taken place—water turned to blood and the land covered in frogs. Aaron strikes his staff on the ground to begin the third plague. Gnats cover Egypt. The Egyptian magicians try to duplicate the feat as they have duplicated the first two. They fail. Their response, “this is the finger of God.”

Jesus aligns himself with God in verse 20. He has been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan, but Jesus says the power comes from God. He is God’s agent on this earth just as Moses and Aaron were. Have you noticed in this story something that appears a bit odd? There is no denial of the miracle. No one in the crowd denies what they have witnessed. The question is by what authority. Whose power is at work here? Why are some so quick to attribute Jesus’s work to Satan? Because there is no faith. Why are these people around? Look at verse 29. They are interested in signs. They want more proof. They want to be entertained. Faith in God—No.

Jesus says the only certain sign will be the resurrection. And this generation will be judged harshly because they have had so much proof but refuse to believe the truth. The queen of Sheba came to hear Solomon’s wisdom and Jesus is greater than Solomon. The Ninevites listened to Jonah and Jesus is greater than Jonah. What more proof do you need?

I’m speaking now to those who are not Christians. For whatever reason, you have not accepted Jesus as Lord. Here’s the choice given. No one doubted that Jesus performed the miracle. The question was who was working through him—was it Satan or God? Who do you say it was? Either Jesus came because of God’s power or he came because of Satan’s power? Jesus claimed to come by God’s power. He said there was no way he could be doing Satan’s work. There is a real spiritual battle going on in your mind right now. What do you believe? Where do you place your faith? Enough truth has been given. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” It is time for you to obey. Now is the time for you to demonstrate your faith in Jesus that you accept him as Lord.

Now to those who have already decided to follow Jesus. From this point on Luke records fewer miracles. From this point there are far more teaching passages than miracle stories. There is a reason for that. Enough has already been given so that as Christians we can know we have made the right decision. Jesus is far stronger than any of the demons which may try to occupy our thoughts and time. The story in verses 24-26 speaks about the man whose life has been swept clean, but he learned nothing from that experience. Instead, he allowed the evil spirits to return. Jesus came to heal and cleanse, but it is our faith which keeps the house clean. We sweep out the evil by our faith. Some need to have their house swept clean. The kingdom of God is present today. Will you give yourself over to it?

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