On the Road to Jerusalem: The Finger of God

“But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”—Luke 11:20

God’s kingdom began to dawn at Christ’s incarnation. Jews had been looking forward to His coming for millennia, but largely misunderstood His kingdom. Consider John the Baptist. He was languishing in prison because he spoke out against King Herod’s unbiblical marriage to his brother’s wife (Mark 6:18). While in prison, he sent messengers to Jesus, asking, "Are You the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"—Luke 7:19. John had already said that God’s Messiah was coming, and that he was the one sent to prepare the way of the Lord (Luke 3:4). When asked whether or not he was the Christ, John responded in the negative:

“I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire"—Luke 3:16-17.

When he saw Jesus on the day he baptized Him, he said,

“’Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because He was before me.” I myself did not know Him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’"—John 1:29-34.

How could John, who knew that Jesus was the Christ, say, “Are You the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" It was because he misunderstood the prophecies surrounding Christ’s coming. It was typically understood that God’s Messiah would come and liberate the nation of Israel, returning the nation to the days similar to those experienced under David and Solomon. But what John and many others failed to realize was that God’s Christ would not have one coming, but two. The first was to inaugurate Christ’s kingdom. And the second would be to consummate it. God’s Messiah would come humbly the first time, as Zechariah prophesied:  

“Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”—Zechariah 9:9.

But the second time, He will come to bring the “day of vengeance” (Isaiah 61:2)  

“in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”—2 Thessalonians 1:8.

We live in a day between two comings—the first when He came and lived on the earth, and the second when He will come again to judge and to reign forever. When Jesus said,  “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you,” He was making a declaration—God’s kingdom was here. And people needed to respond accordingly.

During this Lenten season, we are reminded that Christ’s kingdom, though inaugurated, is not yet consummated, and we look forward to that day. God came to give us a kingdom that is unshakeable, and we must learn to live in light of that kingdom, as Peter wrote:

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”—1 Peter 3:11-12. 

Amen.