Luke 11:14-28, Oculi 2021

Our Lord does offer a sign from heaven, he offers many. Yet the crowd not only disbelieves, but attributes the sign to another source, to that exactly the opposite.

Even the devil knows that if his kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.

The crowd marvelled because the healing of a mute person, or one deaf, blind, or lame, as in other miracles, while not completely unheard of, always indicated the work of God. Elijah and Elisha raise children from the dead: a clear sign of the LORD, not of a false god. Notice that there is a complete difference between the work of God and the work of the devil, exemplified by the magicians. the devil can only do that which is destructive, burdensome, crushing, deadly. He is the Lord of the Flies. he brings destruction. To be sure, God does this in Exodus, but he does it against the devil himself. He brings an end to the devil’s work. For men, God is creative, healing, life-giving. He is the Lord of life. He heals muteness, blindness, deafness, lameness, and even death itself.

Luke also notes that Jesus “knows their thoughts.” By responding to their thoughts, Jesus gives another sign from heaven, knowing only what the Lord can know.

Jesus even appeals to the Jews own exorcists. These true exorcists, knowing that their power comes only from God, will judge rightly about Jesus, and also then judge Jesus’ accusers.

Thus it is not by the power of the devil, but by the finger of God, the same power of God which overthrew the false gods of Egypt, that Jesus casts out demons.

This is not just signs from heaven, but the beginning of Jesus’ conquest. He is picking apart the armor of Satan, the forces that Satan has at his disposal. He backs Satan into a corner, and Satan has only desperation at hand.

If you are not with Jesus, you are against him.

Thus you must ever be on watch. It is not enough at one point to have cast the demons from your midst, to have been purified, but now for your home, your soul, to lie peaceful, but vacant. Sooner or later the demons will return and take up their dwelling again. If you are not with Jesus, you are against him, because you become a house for demons.

How, is it, that not evil spirits, but the Holy Spirit of God takes up his dwelling within you and remains in you? By hearing the Word of God and keeping it. These are the blessed ones, the holy ones, the ones upon whom the kingdom of God has come, and the ones with whom Jesus dwells.