David Bahn – Reflections

Jesus’ initial message was, “The time has come, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15) Here in Matthew 12 Jesus says that if he is casting out demons by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is at hand. But there are other signs of the presence of God’s kingdom as well.

Matthew 12:22-32

Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³ And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” ²⁴But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ²⁵ Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. ³⁰ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³²And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

In these few verses we see evidence of God’s kingdom’s presence. Jesus is there. A blind man is healed. People were amazed. Opposition is voiced. You read it right: opposition is voiced.

Too often we think that God’s kingdom is a place of peace, harmony, perfect obedience, and love. The fact is that there are people who are opposed to God’s kingdom. We see them in the world, manifest in drug lords who murder, rape and pillage by the dozens. We see it in the crime-ridden neighborhoods where people are afraid to go out at night. We see it in the attempts to silence the Christian witness in public schools and square. Sadly we also see it in the church, where people oppose the gospel mission and purpose of the church.

Certainly one of the gravest disappointments for me as a young pastor many years ago was that not everyone wanted to see the church move forward and grow. Not everyone wanted to see God’s kingdom be extended if it meant that they had to change along with the growth and influx of new people.

I do not go looking for conflict or opposition in any efforts to extend God’s kingdom; I don’t need to walk around with a chip on my shoulder. But neither am I surprised when opposition comes. Saddened, maybe, but not surprised.

When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” in the Lord’s prayer, we should look for the signs of his presence and reign. The strong man (Satan) has had his house entered. The devil’s kingdom has been ransacked. Let’s pick up the plunder and enjoy the blessings of Christ’s reign in our hearts.