Third Sunday in Lent, The Kingdom of God is Upon you!

Luke 11:14-28 (ESV)
Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. [15] But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelze-bul, the prince of demons," [16] while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. [17] But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. [18] And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. [19] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [20] But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [21] When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; [22] but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. [23] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
[24] "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' [25] And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. [26] Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first."
[27] As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" [28] But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelze-bul, the prince of demons," [16] while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. [17] But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. [18] And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. [19] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [20] But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. The kingdom of God has come upon you. Jesus Christ is that kingdom. Where Christ dwells, there is the kingdom of God, and Christ dwells in his believers, Christ dwells in his Church, where he is found in his word and sacraments, Where there is faith in Christ, there is Christ, and there is the kingdom of God. Otherwise what does this mean that if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? What would that mean, if it was not Christ saying I am the kingdom of God.
It is peculiar. One might think it a totally natural thought to believe that Jesus was casting out demons by the Beelzebul. I don’t know why Christians so often don’t believe in the supernatural and think all witchcraft is a sort of hocus pocus. And by believe in, I mean recognize that it exists. That’s all. I do not recommend putting your trust in it. I ask you sincerely to give up your horoscopes, palm reading, etc. for that type of divination and witchcraft is thoroughly condemned throughout the Old and New Testament. But it exists, and some are actually pretty good at it. I have no doubt they tap into and channel unclean spirits. Jesus doesn’t either. Pharaoh’s magicians are able to do quite some fancy stuff, and not all of that was mere sleight of hand mind you. Those who believe God’s word, are but bound to believe that the supernatural exists and that there are those who can channel demons and other spirits to do their dirty work. Of course, that is no reason to give up a healthy skepticism when it comes to the vast majority of those doing this kind of work either, a good portion of it is nothing but tomfoolery.
But to watch as one you know to be mute, is given the gift of speech, is to know there is something special going on. Some say Jesus does this by Beelzebul. There is no warrant for this. There were many in Jesus day that cast out demons. The Pharisees had their own exorcists. It isn’t as if this were something as rare and strange as it is made out in the movies today. It was done often in those days. And often it had the same effect that Jesus warns about. The Spirit merely left to come back with seven others, and make a worse mess than the one that the person started with. But the point is, they had their own exorcists, and Jesus is right to ask them by whom do your sons cast them out if I do it by Beelzebul? Why do you question me, and not your own?
They had no reason to question Jesus. He was not an unbeliever. They disliked him because he threatened their own authority. They disliked him because he challenged their misconceptions, and seemed to flaunt the law. Like I said there were others. Luke 9:49 even records that some were casting out the demons in the name of Jesus. And Jesus says of him if they are not against me they are for me. One could not cast out demons in the name of Jesus without believing in Jesus. But if they were to level this charge against Jesus then they must level this charge against those whom they know and trust. And these would judge against them.
Pharaoh’s magicians understood and recognized the finger of God. That is an amazing thing. They recognized a power greater than their own. They even use the name of YHWH! They tell Pharaoh that it is by YHWH. Pharaoh’s magicians recognize the existence of YHWH, they know that he is God, and that they are helpless against him. They judge Pharoah in that they act as messengers of God at that time. They tell him who is doing these things and warn him to stop standing in the way. So would be the judgment of the sons of the Pharisees who also perform exorcisms. They will judge, because the Pharisees will not listen to what they say, they will not heed the warning. This term finger of God is used quite sparingly. It appears in Exodus, and here really.
Pharaoh’s magicians mean that this is a small thing for God to do. It is but by his finger that he does these things. He does not put his whole strength into it. He does not even use his whole hand. But his finger! And Jesus here implies that he himself is casting out demons, using but the finger of the God they are now rejecting by rejecting him.
To reject Jesus is to reject God. To reject Jesus is to reject the Father! Listen many believe there is a god. Many believe there is only one god. But that does not thereby mean that they have faith in God the Father. It does not mean they are saved anymore than Pharaoh’s magicians who made their living practicing the black arts were saved for recognizing the finger of God. If you are not for Jesus, you are against him. You cannot be in the house of the Father and reject Jesus! This goes for Jews who refuse to believe in Jesus, they have not part in the kingdom of God. I don’t say so. Jesus, the Jew, lest I be accused of anti-semitism, says so here, when he says a house divided against itself cannot stand. I don’t care if by the flesh they are of Abraham, they have rejected Abraham’s God and are no longer of the house of Israel. For a house divided cannot stand, and Jesus’ house is the house of Israel. This goes for Muslims. This goes for those who come to recognize there is a god, but foolishly maintain that nothing can be known about him, and refuse to investigate. Recognizing there is a god is different than believing in him, trusting him and loving him. And love, love for Jews, Love for Muslims, love for agnostics and skeptics compels me to say so. It is Beelzebul who says differently and would have you believe that people can be saved apart from Jesus Christ, without believing in him.
So Jesus rightly warns, that if it is by the finger of God that he casts out demons, and it is, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Reject Jesus at your own peril. Believe in him and be saved! Believe in Jesus and join his kingdom! This is what Jesus is saying. And mark his words well. The kingdom of God is upon you!
It is of this kingdom we pray, “thy kingdom come.” And indeed it comes” even without our prayer, but we pray that it would come to us also. His kingdom comes when our Heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit that by his grace we believe his holy word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.”
It is not and cannot be what the others who looked for signs from heaven wanted, an earthly kingdom with and earthly king, a millennium of earthly peace and prosperity ruled by the saints. But it is Jesus Christ himself who reigns at the right hand of the father, and casts out demons by his finger. It is Jesus Christ who forgives the sins of sinners, and sends his Holy Spirit that we may all believe his word, and live godly lives. It is Jesus Christ who is King of kings, and Lord of Lords. For the kingdom of God is upon you, wait no more, but believe. Wait no more for an earthly peace, it will not come. But believe and receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, a peace with God who forgives the sins of the ungodly that they might be godly here in time and there in eternity, who keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.