NT Framework - Why isn't the Kingdom here now?

I would rather be living under a divine and perfect king than under any mortal mans rule, and one day we will. That reality was rejected by one group of people and has been affecting everyone ever since.

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

Transcript

Setting The Stage: Rome And Fear

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.

Messianic Miracles Explained

The Blind And Mute Exorcism

Crowd Wonders About The Messiah

Pharisees’ Beelzebul Claim

Jesus’ Kingdom Logic

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Here was the problem. The problem was he was gaining popularity, right? A lot of people were following after him. They're dealing with Rome, Roman rule over them. They wanted to get along with the Romans. They did not want any more control by the Romans. They wanted as much freedom as they could from the Romans. Jesus is causing a stir. If the people go after him, then we're going to have a big problem on our hands. And we don't want an uprising of Rome against us, so we need to get rid of Jesus. And so you can see it's in their minds and their hearts right here, the plot, the conspiracy to destroy him. Now in verse 22, we have a what is known in the Old Testament in Judaism, they had a term for in Old Testament Judaism for the miracles that the Messiah would be able to do. I mean, obviously he did a lot of miracles, but there were some miracles in the Gospels that he does that outclass all the others. And these were to be known as messianic miracles. Because, I mean, we know, like uh there were Jewish exorcists and things like that that could cast out demons. Jesus mentions them later in the chapter. So that was a possibility, the thing that they could do, okay, it was well known. But there were some demons that they could not pass could not cast out, the Jewish exorcist. For a Jewish exorcist to cast out a demon, they had to gain, they could, they had to have a discussion. They could talk with the person who was indwelt with a demon. Okay? They could talk with the demon. And that was the only way they could cast the demon out. They had to gain this communication link. The problem with this scene, as you'll see in verse 22, is there's a demon who is indwelling a man and the man is mute. So there cannot be any communication. If you don't understand this Jewish background to this context, it won't make any sense to you why the people respond the way they do. But so with that background, look in verse 22. It says, Then a demon-possessed man, and then it says, What? Who is blind and mute. So we say this guy has three problems. Number one, he's demon-possessed. Number two, he's blind, and number three, he can't speak. Well, I thought that you had to be able to have a communication link with the demon in order to pass uh to cast it out. And so they bring this man to Jesus, and it says he healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. And verse 23 is their response. All the crowds were what? Yeah, Thalmadzo. They were this Greek word for astonished. They were marveling. Why? And they were saying, This man cannot be the son of David, can he? What did they pick up from Jesus being able to cast out a demon and heal a man who was both blind and mute? That this guy was the Messiah. Why did they think that? Because only the Messiah would be able to do this type of miracle. The Jewish exorcists couldn't do anything about it. So they were like, whoa, this can't be the Messiah. Can't it? And of course, they're right. They're dead on. I mean, that's why Jesus did the miracle. To show them I'm not just another Jewish exorcist, I am the man. I am the Messiah. And they're seeing it, so the Pharisees are worried. Oh, great, more people are going to go after him, right? Now we're really going to have a problem with Rome. We've got to stop this. So, verse 24. But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, No, no, no, that's not the right explanation. He's not the son of David, he's not the Messiah. This man casts out demons only by Beelzebubul, the ruler of the demons. This was their attempt to explain away what he had just done, right? Who is the ruler of the demons? Satan. Okay, so what are they saying? They're saying that Satan had done this miracle through Jesus to cast out this demon, heal his blindness and his muteness. That's what their explanation is. And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, Any kingdom divided against itself is laid to waste, and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan just cast out Satan in what I just did, then he Satan is divided against himself. How then is his kingdom gonna stand? In other words, see, Jesus just used uh logic. He took their premise and he followed to the logical conclusion, and he said, basically, you guys are idiots.

SPEAKER_01 5:04

That's not a good explanation. That's not gonna fly.

Kingdom Nearness And Its Sign

SPEAKER_02 5:12

Now, in verse uh 30, 31, 31, this this what they had just done there by attributing to Satan what Jesus had done actually by the Holy Spirit, right? This miracle. By attributing it to Satan, they had done what is called the unpardonable sin, which again, a lot of Christians and people in church history have struggled over what is the unpardonable sin, right? Well, I mean, we're told what it is, it's what just happened here. It's attributing Jesus' miracle to Satan rather than the Holy Spirit. So let's see in verse 31. Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against who? The Spirit shall not be forgiven. Now, did Jesus cast that demon out by the Spirit? Well, what does it say in verse 28? I mean, we're here just to read the Bible and learn it together. What does it say in verse 28? If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you, meaning it's right here on the verge of entering. What is Jesus going to do when he sets up the kingdom? One of the things that's described in Revelation 20 when he sets up the Messianic kingdom is who is going to be cast out? Satan. Do you see the connection when Jesus makes a statement like he does in verse 28 and he says, Hey, if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Meaning, can't you see that the work I'm doing by casting out a demon is the work of the king when he comes in his kingdom?

SPEAKER_01 6:56

Of course that's what he's saying.

Forgiveness Clarified

SPEAKER_02 7:00

But they're rejecting that. And so this has been called in verse 31 the blasphemy against the Spirit. And he says it's not going to be forgiven. I mean, it's an unforgivable sin. It's unforgivable. He's not going to ever forgive it. It says in the next verse whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him. That one's forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. So there's one unpardonable sin, right? It's the blasphemy against the Spirit. And the blasphemy against the Spirit is what? It is slandering the Spirit's work by saying that the work that Jesus did of casting out demons and other miracles was the work of Satan and not the Spirit.

SPEAKER_00 7:48

Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube under Spoke and Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app. And until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.