The Hand of the Lord Who Casts Out Demons based on Luke 9:37-43 and Luke 11:14-23

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

In our Bible readings tonight we are reminded about the power of the hand of the Lord. This mighty hand of the Lord came to defeat Satan and his evil forces.

The reading from Luke 9 follows the time when Jesus’ face shone as bright as the sun and His clothing became a dazzling white on the mountain with three of His disciples and Moses and Elijah. As Jesus and His disciples came down from the mountain, a challenge was given to them as a large crowd gathered. A father of a boy begged Jesus for His help. His son was under the control of an evil spirit. The boy was shaken violently and he foamed at the mouth. Some of the disciples of Jesus had tried to cast out the evil spirit, but they were unable to do anything to help the boy. Jesus told the father to bring his son to Him. As he brought the boy the demon threw the boy to the ground and shook him. Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and the boy was healed on the spot. Jesus gave the boy back to his father. The disciples of Jesus were no match for the evil spirit, but the hand of Jesus cast out the evil spirit and returned the boy to his father.

You might think that people would be glad to see Jesus cast out evil spirits and demons among them. In Luke 11 after Jesus cast out a demon from a man who could not talk and the man was able to speak, most of the people were amazed. But some said that He cast out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, another name for Satan. Jesus responded to them in Luke 11:17–23, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Satan would not help his evil cause by casting out demons that he sent to oppress people. That would be fighting against himself. God does not need even His whole hand to cast out demons. Instead God casts out demons with only one finger. Satan is like a strong man who is fully armed and guards his earthly palace, but he is no match for Jesus. Jesus is the stronger One who attacks the devil and takes away his armor and overcomes the evil one.

The devil’s power is too great for us to handle on our own. The devil has more tricks and lies up his sleeve than we can deal with on our own. We need the powerful hand of Jesus to fight for us and fight against the power and tricks of the devil.

A Lutheran pastor writes, “Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus did not succumb to the devil’s temptation in the wilderness. He has overpowered the strong man in order to plunder his house. Jesus has gained the upper hand on the devil in order to rescue us out from under his tyranny. That is just what God did in Christ when He came casting out demons. The devil is no match for the Son of God. He has done it all by the finger of God. 

“By going to the cross, Christ defeated sin, death, and the devil for you. In Christ Jesus, you are forgiven and given eternal life. The devil’s power and hold on you has been routed. His accusations hold no weight. Christ has fulfilled that promise that we heard in Genesis 3:15: He has crushed the serpent’s head underfoot. Jesus has taken you from Satan’s grip of despair and placed you under the mighty hand of God. You have the one who is stronger than the strong man. You can cast all your anxieties upon Christ. He will protect you, and no one can snatch you out of His hand. 1 Peter 5:6–9 states, ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.’ Getting too close is extremely dangerous. But he is bound. His time is short. He has been defeated. You are under the mighty hand of God. The devil cannot harm you because the Lord holds you. 

“The hymn, ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’, reassures us with these words, ‘Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpow’r us. This world’s prince (that is, Satan) may still scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him’ (LSB 656:3). 

“Just the finger of God knocks him down! This gives us confidence this day to cast all our anxieties upon Him. For by the finger of God, Jesus has defeated the strong man and plundered his goods in order to rescue us and place us under the mighty and protective hand of God.” (From sermon by Pastor Matthew Rosebrock, for Midweek of Lent 2 in 2025, “The Hand of the Lord Casts Out Demons.”) Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.