Disaster, Demons, and Death

Luke 8:24-25

And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?"  And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"

.................

Just in case there was any question as to Jesus' infinite power, Luke here provides a triumvirate of evidences to illustrate that Jesus is nothing less than omnipotent.

Disaster. When Jesus calmed the stormy sea, the appropriate reaction seems to be utter amazement. The disciples marveled that this man who walked among them could control nature merely with his words. This was no magic trick. The Maker of the sea and wind was standing here in the flesh, as if he had stepped right out of the Genesis creation story. Jesus was and is completely sovereign over nature.

Demons. But he is also sovereign over an unseen spiritual world. Verses 26-39 describe one of the most bizarre conversations ever recorded. Jesus approaches what we would consider a raving lunatic and proceeds to speak with a Legion of demons that are oppressing him. And it is not Jesus who shudders, but the demons who plead for mercy and try to bargain for a less horrible fate. Jesus was and is completely sovereign over the spiritual realm.

Death. Not impressed yet? Well, take a moment right now and visualize your last few moments alive. You know they will one day come, and you will eventually have to face the point of no return - a dark veil over which lies some unknown void. Will there be something on the other side of that last breath? Is there anything else in all the world that we have LESS control over? Death is completely unavoidable... Or is it? This passage concludes with an event even more remarkable than Jesus' clash with disaster or demons. Here, Jesus encounters the hopelessness of a young child's death and almost casually decides to rewind it.

And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping."  And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise."

Child, arise. Two words. Two words to undo death. What remains the most troubling, terrifying, uncontrollable enemy that mankind has ever known, he undoes with two simple words. This is the gospel. Death is overcome, the grave is emptied of power, the wages of sin are being paid for by this humble and powerful Savior.

Now, will we believe and find our strength in Him?