In our readings this evening, we heard of the mighty “Hand of the Lord.” This mighty Hand has come to defeat Satan and free people from his grasp. No one else has this kind of power.

In tonight’s Gospel account from Luke, a desperate father approaches Jesus, pleading on behalf of his demon-possessed son. This demon has control of the boy, convulses him, and will not leave him. While Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration with three disciples, the rest of the disciples tried to help the boy, but by the time Jesus comes down from the mountain the disciples have been powerless to do anything for the son. In fact, just being in Jesus’ presence is enough for the demon to throw the boy to the ground. But all Jesus needs is His Word of rebuke to make the demon leave the boy. The Lord Jesus heals him, lifts the boy up, and hands him back to his father. The disciples, who—by their own hands—were no match for the demon, learn from Jesus that in regard to the demon their hands are best suited to pray.

Later on, Jesus sends out seventy-two followers with the authority to cast out demons. When the seventy-two return, they are really excited to share what had been done through them. Nevertheless, Jesus still reminds them not to lose sight of what is most important: their names are written in the Book of Life. Taking their eyes off God’s work always opens the door for pride. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,” says Proverbs. The devil’s power isn’t to be messed with. The disciples can cast out demons by God’s hand alone.

So, when Jesus comes—doing what no mere man can do—one would expect Him to be welcomed by all the people. Yet, the opposite is often the case. Many of the people accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul—the prince of demons. It’s a seriously unreasonable statement to say that Satan would cast out his own demonic forces. As a principle, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” So, what’s going on here? Why would many people say such outlandish things about Jesus? The religious leaders are threatened by Jesus’ power and authority. In fact, they are so deceived by Satan’s power that they can’t see liberation from Satan’s enslavement even though it’s happening right in front of their eyes.

Sadly, the reality of Satan’s power is in his great deception to hold people captive ever since the garden with Adam and Eve. They listened to the crafty voice of the serpent rather than God’s voice of Truth. As a result, to this very day we humans have suffered the consequences of wanting to be gods of our own little worlds. To have it our own way—to take everything in our own hands—isn’t power. We may delude ourselves into thinking that it is power, but it’s the biggest kind of enslavement. It puts ourselves under the tempter’s power, and thereby, receives the tempter’s fate—eternal condemnation. God didn’t create hell for human beings. He created it for Satan and the fallen angels. If God truly and only let us have it our way—to take everything into our own hands—we would find ourselves in the biggest enslavement. We can’t break free from captivity to sin, death, and the devil. Not by any might of our hands. We are trapped.

Jesus says that Satan is like a strong man. No one around can match his strength. By his might, he keeps hold of all his possessions. So, we can’t escape by our might. No human being is strong enough alone to defeat Satan. The devil’s house is terrifyingly too strong for us.

Unless and until it comes against the “finger of God”. The finger of God in the Old Testament is a way of describing God’s work of creation. It’s also a phrase that describes how the Lord inscribed His commandments in the stone tablets. In other words, the finger of God is His Word! By His Word, God created everything. By His Word, He gave His Law to Moses. Jesus Himself is the Word of God! Jesus is the finger of God! It takes only the finger of God for Satan’s kingdom of tyranny to suffer crushing defeat. At Jesus’ Word, demons shudder and flee.

Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus didn’t succumb to the devil’s temptation in the wilderness. He overpowered the strong man in order to plunder his house. Jesus has gained the upper hand on the devil in order to rescue us from the devil’s tyranny. That’s just what God did in Christ when the Lord came casting out demons. The devil is no match for God’s Son—who has done all the rescuing 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 overwhelmed. His accusations hold no weight with God. Christ has fulfilled the promise that we heard in Genesis 3:15. Jesus has crushed the serpent’s head underfoot. Jesus has taken you from Satan’s grip of despair and placed you under the mighty, saving hand of God. You have in Jesus the one who is stronger than the strong man. You can cast all your anxieties upon Him.

Christ will protect you, and no one can snatch you out of His hand. “Indeed, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Getting too close is extremely dangerous, but he is bound in chains. His time is short. Satan has been defeated. You are under the mighty “Hand of the Lord.” The devil can’t harm you because the Lord holds you in mercy.

“Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us,

we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpower us.

This world’s prince 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.”

One. Little. Word. Just the finger of God knocks Satan down! This gives you confidence this day to cast all your anxieties upon the Lord. For by the finger of God, Jesus has defeated the strong man and plundered his goods in order to rescue you and place you under the mighty and protective “Hand of the Lord.” Amen.