As the story goes, the Civil War general George Steadman . . .

As the story goes, the Civil War general George Steadman had a premonition just before the battle of Second Manassas (also known as Bull Run) that things would not turn out well for the Confederates.  Hence, when addressing his troops, he told them, “Gentlemen, I want you to fight vigorously and then run for your life.  As I am a bit lame, I am going to begin running now!”

Something similar occurs in Luke’s Gospel when Jesus announces that he is heading toward Jerusalem—everyone interested in possibly becoming a disciple starts running for their life.  For example, one person steps forward and boldly proclaims, “I will follow you, Lord, wherever you go.”  And Jesus tells him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

The would-be disciple then pauses.  “Give me a moment to think about that, Lord.  I’m not sure if it’s wise to leave the security of my own home to follow someone who has no place to lay his head.”  And so, Jesus keeps moving forward.

A little ways down the road, someone else is invited to become a disciple, but he replies, “Lord, I plan on following you; however, I need to bury my father first.”  It seems like a reasonable request.  Isn’t honoring our parents one of the Ten Commandments?  But Jesus responds, rather tersely, “Let the dead bury their own dead!”

It’s a difficult statement, to be sure.  But it seems to me that the real issue here is one of control.  If we’re honest with ourselves, most of us have a deep-seated desire to be in control, and to maintain some semblance of order amidst a confusing and chaotic world.  Thus, the first fellow is reluctant to follow Jesus, because having “no place to lay one’s head” is a frightening, out-of-control situation.  Likewise with the second fellow—caring for his dying father is something he can control; following Jesus to who-knows-where is not.

But then again, Jesus is well aware of what it means to relinquish control.  After all, the whole point of his heading toward Jerusalem is ultimately about giving up control.  “Nevertheless, Father, not what I want, but what you want.”

So maybe the reason that Jesus is so insistent  that his followers give up control is because that’s the crucial first step of faith, to know that even amidst a chaotic world, over which we have little to no control, God is still there with us.  Indeed, God proved that in the person of Jesus Christ, who was willing to give up control of his life, so that we could secure ours!