20260419 Luke 11:14-36 Responding to Jesus

For many of us, our lives are crazy. We feel a pull from many directions. We are busy with work, education, parenting, complex social situations, hard marriages, health problems, aging parents, or romance at school. These situations require our immediate attention so some of us feel like we do not ever have time to invest in our relationship with God. We wish we could value our faith more, but we can't seem to find the time.

For others of us, our problem is not time but intellectual integrity. Before we can follow Jesus, we need some answers. Before our questions are answered satisfactorily, we cannot follow Jesus with integrity. We may tell ourselves that if only we got a sign from God, then our doubts would disappear and we would believe. Whether we are overwhelmed by our life circumstances or struggle intellectually with Jesus, Luke 11:14-36 is for us.

Luke 9-19 is Luke’s Travel Narrative from Galilee to Jerusalem. This travel narrative serves as a discipleship manual teaching us how to follow Jesus. Luke 11:14-36 is about responding to Jesus and following Jesus. It covers 5 textual units, but they all teach about responding to Jesus and following Jesus.

In our text, Jesus casts out a demon. Following this miracle, the crowd's response is mixed. Some marvel, some accuse Jesus of working for the devil, and others test him, wanting to see a sign. In the rest of the passage, Jesus comments on the crowd's response to him. In doing so, he teaches us how we must respond to him. Our text combines the different bodily senses to show we must be wholly devoted to Christ. There is a mute person who speaks, and the text stresses hearing, seeing, and doing. Jesus teaches we must be wholly devoted to him with our whole being.

Jesus makes three statements that summarize that help structure his message on following him. First, in Luke 11:23, Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Second, in Luke 11:28, Jesus says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Third, in Luke 11:29, Jesus says, “This generation is an evil generation, it seeks for a sign.”

These three statements teach us what Jesus requires of us to follow him. We must commit to Jesus. We must hear and keep Jesus' words. Finally, we must be satisfied with Jesus. I’m summarizing these three points with three P’s: Check your position, check your practice, and check your prize.

These are three tests for all of us.

Luke 11:14-23 Check your Position: Are you truly with Him or are you against Him?

In Luke 11:14, Jesus casts out a demon from a man who is mute. Once the demon is out, the mute man spoke. According to Luke 11:14-17, some marveled, while others said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons.”

Beelzebub is a name given to Satan in Luke 11:18. The third response to the exorcism is that some wanted a sign from heaven. In Luke 11:17-22, Jesus appeals to those accusing him and those testing him for a sign. In Luke 11:23, Jesus concludes, “Whoever is not with me is against me and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Jesus removes the options of the middle ground when it comes to him. If we are not with Jesus, we are against him. We need to ask ourselves the following. Where do we stand with Jesus? When we ask our questions, do we stand with Jesus or against Jesus? Do we gather with Jesus do we contribute to his mission, or do we scatter, are we opposing God’s mission?

Teaching from Luke 11:14-23, 33-36

To those who accuse him of working for the devil, he shows them their folly. He explains that they were implying that he was working for the devil to destroy the devil. This does not make any sense. He shows them they should have concluded the opposite. Exorcisms are a sign that one stronger than the devil has attacked the devil and overcome the devil.

In the previous chapter in Luke 10:18, Jesus says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven.” The coming of Jesus and his earthly ministry marked a radical shift in spiritual warfare. His ministry showed he was overcoming the devil!

The Hebrew word Satan, the Greek word diabolos both communicate – the enemy, accuser, slanderer, false-accuser. Rev 12:9-10 describes the ministry of the devil as: “the deceiver of the whole world,” and “the accuser of our brothers … who accuses them day and night before our God.”

The coming of Jesus coincides with the fall of Satan. We no longer have a deceiver of the world as the gospel reaches the whole world. We no longer have an accuser. Rather, Christ, who paid for our sins, is our advocate. 1 John 2:1 reads, “If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus “always lives to make intercession for [us].” Rom 8:34 Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Jesus, both defends himself from the accusation and shows how it is misguided. The truth of Jesus’ binding the devil could not be greater for us. Instead of accusing Jesus, the people should have rejoiced!

This is how Jesus responded to those who accused him of working for the devil.

To those who want a sign from heaven, he says in Luke 11:20, “If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” He has just performed a sign, and the people ask for another one. His reference to the finger of God offers a subtle critique. The phrase “finger of God” appears 3 other times in the Bible. Twice referring to the 10 commandments written by the finger of God. The only other time is in Exod 8:19 when the Egyptian magicians tried to replicate the plagues but couldn’t. They recognized they were being overpowered by the finger of God. This parallel between Jesus’ miracle and Moses is significant! With this allusion, Jesus is comparing his Jewish opponents to the Egyptians who opposed Moses and God. The difference is that the Egyptians recognized the power of God, while Jesus’ Jewish opponents failed to see the kingdom of God. Jesus ends in Luke 11:23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Luke 11:33-36 also speaks to the theme of opposing Jesus. These verses use the symbols of light, the eye, and the body. The logic of these verses is the following. For our bodies to be healthy and full of light, our eyes who are the lamp of the body must be full of light. Those whose eyes accept Jesus are full of his light but those whose eyes reject Jesus are full of darkness. In this analogy, the eye is the lamp because it determines what the body takes in. If our eyes are set on the light of Jesus our whole beings are full of life. When our eyes don’t look to Jesus, we are filled with darkness.

Application

We must check our position. Jesus does not offer us a middle ground. We are either with him or against him. Consider the facts. Jesus cast out demons because he has conquered the devil. Jesus cast out the ruler of this world (John 12:31). The devil is now bound so that his ability to deceive the nations is severely limited. This is how Christianity has spread from a tiny movement in the first century to reaching every continent.

Accusations against Jesus today remain. They normally involve pointing to the harm the church has done in God’s name. Some of the accusations are valid. But as perceptive as these comments may be, they can be a smoke screen to avoid dealing with Jesus. The church does do harm, and this is tragic, but we still have to deal with Jesus. Jesus is the king of king and the Lord of lords. We must submit to his reign and find refuge from God's just judgment of our sins. This text reminds us that there is no middle ground. You are with Jesus or against Jesus. Our eyes are set on the light of Jesus and bodies are full of light, or we are not. If we remain an accuser of Jesus, we stand against he who brings the kingdom of God. We must check our position are we with Jesus or against Jesus.

Sometimes those who do not follow Jesus are close. They have lots of questions, but they remain outside because of uncertainty. Sometimes those who doubt don't realize that some of us who are Christians struggle with similar questions they do. The difference is that a Christian doubts while believing rather than not believing. You can have 100 questions and still be 'with' Jesus. There is no middle ground, we are either with Jesus or against Jesus. To those who doubt, we want to honor your questions, we want to offer good answers. We also invite you to let go of the need for certainty about everything and submit to King Jesus. Trust and receive the forgiveness of sins and live under his rule and obey him. Check your position, are you with Jesus or against Jesus?

Luke 11: 24-28 Check your Practice: Are you hearing the Word and keeping it?

Luke 11:24 continues with the theme of a demon going out of a person. In the first point, an exorcism revealed a climactic shift in spiritual warfare. It was a sign that Jesus overcame the devil! Now, Luke 11:24-28 teaches that Christians must not just experience the work of the finger of God, we must act. We must check our practice. We see this first in Luke 11:24-26 then in Luke 11:27-28.

Teaching

Luke 11:24-26

Luke 11:24-26 is about a demon who goes out of a person. This is great news until we read in Luke 11:26, that he has returned with seven other spirits more evil than itself and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Following the departure of the initial demon, Luke 11:25 describes the person as a house swept and put in order. The problem is that this house lacks Jesus, the stronger man who overcame and took away the devil’s armor. This is a call in life not to just avoid bad things but also to fill our lives with Jesus things. The Christian life is not one of behavior modification without devotion to Christ. We must check our practice.

Luke 11:27-28

Luke 11:27-28 repeat the theme of responding to Jesus and acting. A woman in the crowd says, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!” Jesus replied in Luke 11:28, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Someone may say, “Blessed is the person of whom a demon came out.” In accord with the previous text, Jesus would say, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” We must check our practice.

Application

I knew a man who was warm, funny, faithful through hard time, gentle, brilliant with two PhD’s. He was a pastor, an author, and a seminary professor. One day, he confessed to me that years ago he had struggled with depression and despair. While being a pastor, he had tried to rob a bank and had gotten arrested. This was in the past, I was more sorry about his struggles than his crimes.

In the few years I knew him, he started to change. He had written books and was becoming obsessed with how many likes he was getting on social media posts. I remember one time, he shared an idea with me about something he was going to include in one of his new books, and I remember disagreeing with him. As I look back, I think my simple disagreement ended our friendship. Years passed, and I recently found out that he was now divorced and had cut all ties with his church and the school he had taught at. His posts on social media reveal he is so different to the man I used to know.

For me, he is an example of a man who has witnessed the power of God following real struggle, but the state he is now in seems far worse than the first. This is a cautionary tale. I want to be liked like he wanted to be liked. When people dismiss my ideas, sometimes I take it personally. We need to remember that a dramatic born-again experience or even an exorcism as great as they may be, are not enough. We respond to Jesus by listening and keeping his word. We need to check our practice.

This is not another gospel where you are saved by works, it is rather understanding that we are saved by God to live as saved people. We need to listen to God’s word and pursue a life in accord with the Scriptures. This is a life of valuing time with God through prayer and the scriptures and time with people.

If this is overwhelming, this is a tip for young parents. My personal Bible reading time took a huge hit since becoming a parent. I have had to change habits and also change perspective on what is realistic. Try praying with your kids instead of around them. Make your children’s Bible story time part of your own personal devotion. Lastly remain connected with people who commit to loving you, knowing you and pointing out our blind spots. We must check our practice.

Luke 11:29-32 Check your Prize: Is Jesus enough for you, or are you still demanding a sign?

The third reaction to Jesus casting out a demon in Luke 11:16 was that some tested him and wanted a sign from heaven. Jesus returns to this sign seeking in Luke 11:29-32. We will see that they did not value Jesus who was right in front of them.

Luke 11:29-32

In Luke 11:29, Jesus says, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Jonah was in the belly of the big fish his underwater tomb for three days and three nights, the same way Jesus will die and rise on the third day. Jonah preached and announced judgment, and the people repented. Jesus demonstrated the coming of the Kingdom of God, and they asked for a sign.

While Gentiles responded to Jonah, Jesus says he is greater than Jonah and his Jewish audience do not see who is in front of them. Jesus is the greatest sign. Those who want a sign other than Jesus himself will be judged on judgment day. Jesus is the sign, he is the prize. We need to check our prize. Do we treasure Jesus, or do we want something else?

Application

I used to be that guy. I told people before I was a Christian, "I’ll become a Christian, if I see a sign!" I think there is some intellectual merit to that request. If people claim that God is real and supernatural, is it unreasonable to want proof? I wanted a sign. The sign I got was that I went from not believing to believing in the course of a conversation. God made himself known to me.

Jesus says in this text that an evil generation seeks a sign because he was right in front of him. Wanting a sign when Jesus is right there is rejecting Jesus. Recently, a non-believer told me what I used to say, “I’ll believe if God gives me a sign.” I said, “Look, I get it, I used to say that too.” I hope you God grants you what you are wanting to see, but I also said, what if he does, are you sure that will be enough?

John’s Gospel is a presentation of Jesus’ ministry around seven signs. In John 20:30, John writes, “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples … but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ… and believing you may have life in his name.”

The Gospel of John as the rest of the Bible presents signs. God has given all of us these signs: the signs of Jesus’ miracles, the sign of his death, burial, and resurrection. These are signs for us that we would believe. It is unreasonable to require God to submit to our terms and ask for a personal sign. God sent Jesus to die for our sins and raised him from the dead. The Bible presents this sign so we can believe it. God send his Spirit for us to believe, to gather weekly for worship to proclaim Christ. This is the ordinary way God reveals himself to unbelievers. Jesus is the sign and now his church announces the sign so that others would believe. Our text is proof that seeing a miracle, or having a demon cast out of us, does not give us life. Jesus is the sign we need and he offers himself for us to believe and receive life in his name. Check your prize, check what you value. We must value Jesus.

I said that I used to be that guy who wanted a sign. But sometimes I still am that guy who wants a sign. Whenever Jesus does not satisfy me, I place extra conditions on God for my happiness, I become that guy again who insists on a sign. The sign we demand may be the absence of suffering, comfort, a spouse, money. Our text teaches we must value Jesus, he is the prize, so let us make him our prize.

Conclusion

Jesus performs a miracle demonstrating that he has overpowered Satan by the finger of God to show that the Kingdom of God has come. This is Great News that demands a response. In our text, a mute man speaks, Jesus tells us to hear and keep his word, and we must see the light so that our whole bodies will be filled with life. The speaking, hearing, seeing, doing, Jesus requires reveals the need to respond to Jesus with our whole being and our whole lives.

We must check our position – know that if we are not with Jesus we are against him. There is no middle ground.

We must check our practice. It is not about what family we are born in, or what miracle we have witnessed. The Christian life is one of listening to Jesus and keeping what he says. This goes well beyond avoiding sinning but listening to what he says on priorities in life, what we fill our minds with, the speed of our lives, and the thoughts that consume us. Keeping Jesus words affects all spheres of our lives.

Finally, check your prize. Jesus has come, and he is our sign. I’m not against signs from heaven but if you know Jesus, you know that no sign could compete with what he already offers – faith, the forgiveness of sins and peace with God, comfort and joy in the Holy Spirit, hope through the resurrection, a global family with his church, and his Word to revive our soul by the work of his Spirit.

We may be wrestling with our present hardships, our present hard relationship or struggling with some intellectual questions regarding the Christian faith. Luke 11:14-36 urges us all to respond to Jesus by being decisively on his side, doing what he says, and keeping our eyes on him who is our prize.