There is a particular scene from the movie Contact that has stuck with me.  It is a conversation between Jodie Foster’s character, Dr. Ellie Arroway and Matthew McConaughey’s character, Palmer Joss.  Palmer is a theologian and Ellie is a SETI scientist and astrophysicist.  Their conversation deals with proof of God’s existence.  Ellie’s premise is how can you believe in something you cannot prove.  This prompts Palmer in his line of inquiry.

Palmer:  “Did you love your father?”

Ellie:  “What?”

Palmer:  “Your dad.  Did you love him?”

Ellie:  “Yes.  Very much.”

Palmer:  “Prove it.”

It is fascinating the things that we want to be able to prove because if we can prove it, we can control it or so we think.  And yet there are so many things that we cannot see with the naked eye or touch with our hands.  Beyond love, here is a list to consider:  wind, gravity, electrons, dark matter, consciousness, evil, justice, purpose, morality, the afterlife, just to name a few.  The only way we know these things exist is by causation – the effects of their existence.  However, we also know that we cannot individually and completely control these things; for the most part, we can only feel the effects of them.

The chief priests and elders who taunted Jesus missed the point of his sacrifice.  They were correct to point out that Jesus had saved others.  In many cases, they were eyewitnesses to his miracles, especially Jesus’ healing ministry.  They were also aware of the instances when Jesus raised someone from the dead (think Jarius’ daughter, the son of the widow from Nain, or Lazarus.)  Now Jesus is hanging on a cross dying, and they assume he has no control over his circumstances.  It is ironic that they miss the fact that Jesus is in perfect control as he willingly lays down his life for them and the rest of humanity.  Any of his disciples within earshot of this might remember his words spoken in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)  Jesus could have rescued himself but in doing so he would have failed to rescue them and by extension us.

John Calvin said this, “They (the chief priests, scribes, and elders) called on [Jesus] to prove his divinity by coming down from the cross, but [Jesus] shows it precisely by continuing to suffer.”  It was not about the power to control his circumstances that made Jesus the Son of God.  It was his power to resist control and submit to the divine plan for salvation.  I can imagine that the chief priests, scribes, and elders would look upon this helpless figure and say, “See if he can save himself.”  Hopefully as we look upon our dying savior, we might come away saying, “See how he is saving us!”

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Contemplate the things you can control and the things that you cannot control.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.

Questions to Consider this week:

• Monday:  What is one thing you cannot control but wish you could?  Why?
• Tuesday:  What is your level of stress over things that you cannot control?
• Wednesday:  Where do you find space and margin to pray asking God to mitigate your need for control and the anxiety this produces?
• Thursday:  How does Jesus’ death rescue you?
• Friday:  How do you respond to his soul saving death knowing that you did not ask for him to do this for you? 
• Saturday:  How does Jesus’ perfect control on the cross of suffering impact your faith?

Actions for the Week:

• Head:  Ponder the depth of control Jesus had to resist saving himself, so that he might save us.
• Heart:  Acknowledge the ways in which you want to control Jesus and his influence over your life.
• Hand:  Submit to God’s perfect will and control of your salvation so that you can let go of your anxiety and need to control your future.