LUKE 8:19-25 CRUISE CONTROL OR CHRIST CONTROL?

LUKE 8:19-25

CRUISE CONTROL

OR CHRIST CONTROL?

See also Matthew 12:46-49

Luke 8:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren and could not come at him for the press.

Susan: So many people surrounded the house where Jesus was teaching that Mary and Jesus’s half-brothers could not make it inside the door.

Susie: The fact that they were outside the house says that they were not following Jesus on a regular basis. In fact, His own half-brothers did not believe Him to be the Messiah until after the resurrection.

John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Susan: Before the resurrection, His brothers were not committed; but after the resurrection, they became a part of the community of Faith.

Susie: Jesus’s half-brothers, James and Jude, even became leaders in the early church.

MacArthur Study Bible note on Matthew 12:46

These are actual siblings (half-brothers) of Jesus. Matthew explicitly connects them with Mary, indicating that they were not cousins or Joseph’s sons from a previous marriage, as some of the church fathers imagined. They are mentioned in all the gospels (Mark 3:31; Luke 8:19–21; John 7:3–5). Matthew and Mark give the names of 4 of Jesus’ brothers, and mention that He had sisters as well (13:55; Mark 6:3).

Luke 8:20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

Susan: A message made its way to Jesus that His family were outside and wanting to speak with Him.

Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Susie: Jesus is not “dissing” Mary or His brothers. He is pointing out the fact that those who trust Him and demonstrate that trust by obedience are members of God’s family. As said before, His brothers did not yet belong to the family of faith. It is said, “blood is thicker than water,” but in this case our faith relationship due to the blood of Jesus is thicker than earthly blood relationships. We are related by blood, the blood of Jesus.

Susan: Jesus was not diminishing the earthly relationship with His family. Instead He was elevating the faith relationship to the level of familyship.

The following episode is also found

at Matthew 8:24-27

Luke 8:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

Susie: Apparently, this was a boat large enough to accommodate thirteen men and probably propelled by sails. Jesus did not give a reason for sailing to the other side of the lake. However, we know that when they got there, He delivered two men from demons. He certainly knew of that divine appointment but did not share it at the time.

Susan: Jesus did not need to give the disciples a reason for traveling to the other shore. He was the Teacher, and they were the students. He had authority, and they trusted Him, following wherever He led them.

Luke 8:23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

Susan: In His humanity, Jesus was so bone-weary tired from ministry that He fell asleep and was almost comatose.

Susie: Even though a fierce storm suddenly arose, Jesus continued to sleep. Of course, He could be at complete peace because He knew He was in control. The boat was filling up with water and in danger of capsizing!

Luke 8:24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Susan: The disciples were in complete contrast to Jesus’s tranquility. They were experiencing extreme anxiety and abject terror.

Susie: In desperation, they shook Jesus awake exclaiming that they were all about to die.

Susan: Even though He was jerked up out of a dead sleep, Jesus stood up and authoritatively addressed the wind and the torrent of water to cease.

Susie: Immediately, the wind stopped tossing them about, the water was calm again, and it was smooth sailing the rest of their journey.

Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Susie: Jesus asked them where their faith was, why were they afraid if they knew they could trust Him? Their answer is not recorded. They probably just looked at the deck in humility.

Susan: Jesus was asking, “Where does your trust and your confidence lie?” The scripture does not give us their answer, but I imagine them turning twenty shades of red.

Susie: At this point, the disciples are only beginning to fully realize that Jesus is God’s Son. They have not seen the extent of His power and authority. They ask each other “What kind of man can command the wind and waves?”

Susan: In other words, “Who is this Person that the forces of nature obey?”

Susie: At this point, they have gone from fearing the storm to being in awe of Jesus and perhaps a bit afraid of His power.

Psalm 65:7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.

Psalm 89:9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Ponder this and apply it: The disciples found themselves in a literally life-threatening storm while Jesus seemed to be taking the day off, completely unaware of their predicament. They became fearful and shook Him awake. Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?” Many times in life, we are in the middle of a storm—a storm of emotions, a storm of terminal disease, a storm of financial fiasco. Does Jesus seem to be blissfully asleep while you face the storm alone? Believe me, He is not unaware; and He does care. Cry out to Him for help. Tell Him about the storm you face (even though He already knows) and wait on His answer. Have faith that God is in control of the storms, both literal and figurative, that assault you here on earth. As the song reminds us, we need to let “Jesus take the wheel” of our lives and guide us safely through our trials.