Homer Simpson Loses Control Of The Mono-Thingy
When in the midst of a crisis, we all want to know who is in control? Who is manning the ship? Does our leader know what he’s doing? Is the one that we follow in control?
Homer Simpson is not the first man I’d choose to be in charge when a crisis arises, and most people would agree. However, while Homer may be a bumbling buffoon, at least he is aware of the crisis at hand. Imagine if he were asleep through it all, dozing off while the monorail passengers scream in horror. How frightening would that be?
It’s a terrifying image, and in the hands of a normal leader the notion of sleeping while a crisis or storm or runaway train rages out of control is preposterous, outrageous, and disturbing. Of course, Jesus is not an ordinary person. He is not an ordinary leader. He is not an ordinary God. In every situation, no matter the dilemma, no matter the crisis, no matter the enemy, no matter the storm, Jesus was, is, and will always be fully and perfectly in control.
Luke 8:22-25 tells of a particular storm Jesus once encountered with his disciples. It’s a passage of scripture that reveals so many aspects of who Jesus is, and one of those aspects is his complete and total control. The storm that arises in this story is nasty one, one that would intimidate the burliest of men. Some of Jesus’s disciples were fishermen, men who were out on the water for most of their lives who had probably seen a storm or two in their day. This was a storm that struck fear into their hearts and sent them to their knees wailing for help. The men wanted to know if anyone was in control during the scariest moment of their life. They shouldn’t have been so worried.
Even before this moment, Jesus had already assured his followers that he was perfectly in control. He proclaimed in Luke 6:46-49 that if they believed in him and built their house upon him, no storm could ever overtake it. Jesus proved his control in the universe as well, healing the sick and raising the dead back to life. Jesus was fully in control, and had no intention of harming the disciples. They were safe and had no need to worry for they were on board with the man in control.
This wasn’t the only incident where Jesus showed he was in control of things. In Luke 4:1-13 when Satan tried to seduce him in the garden he proved that no temptation could overpower him. In Matthew 9:18-26, when on his way a to heal a young woman the girl passes away, he proved that no challenge was too great for him when he simply raised her back to life. And in the greatest story ever told we clearly see that Jesus was in no way a victim, but was fully in control of the sacrifice He made.
The entire crucifixion and resurrection points toward Jesus’s power and control. Look at Luke 22:35-38 as he instructs his disciples to prepare for what is to come. Look at Luke 22:47-53 where Jesus exhibits calmness in the midst of his betrayal, even healing one of his captors and rebuking the disciple who attacked him. Luke 23:32-43 shows Jesus on the cross fully cognizant of the events and of what is to come. Luke 23:44-46 shows that Jesus controlled when the events would be completed, and John 19:28-30 shows that it was Jesus who said “It is finished,” not anyone else.
Jesus never claims that once we begin to follow him that challenges will subside or the storm clouds will disappear in our lives. He claims instead that these storms will not conquer us. He offers us peace in these situations in John 14:27 and in Romans 8:28 assures us that all things (the good things, the bad things, the hard things, the painful things, the confusing things, all things) are working together for good.
As Christians, we are not expected to follow a simply a good man or a smart leader. We are called to follow someone who is perfectly in control, someone who has great things in store for us. Life is uncertain for many of us. Storm clouds loom above, rain is beginning to fall, and we can’t see clearly the next step on the path before us. But Jesus had peace on his boat, knowing that God is steering the ship, and we too can know that peace. If we follow down the path God leads us, no storm can overturn our ship. Jesus sums it up perfectly in John 16:33 saying we can rest easy and have hope because, “I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
