I was looking over the story of Lazarus's resurrection and saw something interesting. I heard some people discussing why Jesus wept. "It was likely," one said, "that the humanity of Jesus was caught off guard by the death of His friend." Instead, I see something else. I see purpose ... in the death of His friend.
The story has Jesus hanging around in Jerusalem (John 10:22-23) when He got word from Mary and Martha, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick" (John 11:3). So, in His great concern for His dear friend ... He stayed on for two more days (John 11:6). Why? He says why. "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it" (John 11:4). It was a plan. He knew what He was doing and it was a good thing. When He determined Lazarus had died (John 11:11), then He set out to Bethany. Why? "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him" (John 11:14-15). Lazarus's death wasn't an unfortunate event. It wasn't a mistake, an error, a tragedy. At least, not in Jesus's terms. It was ... a plan. A plan to glorify the Son of God and a plan to cause His disciples (and more) to believe. No one would have guessed it. Mary and Martha were miffed. "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21, 32). Jesus told them plainly that Lazarus would live, but they didn't believe. So Jesus went to the grave ... and wept (John 11:35). Why? To show that we can weep with those who weep (Rom 12:15). For the tragedy of unbelief. For the tragedy of sin and its consquence -- death. For those who were mourning when they needn't mourn. But not for the death of Lazarus. Jesus was the remedy, already in place (John 11:25-26).
When we encounter tragedies of this sort or others, how do we respond? Do we thank God that He is the resurrection? Do we rejoice that He is working out His plans, that He is bringing about His will on earth as He does in heaven? Do we wait and wonder, "What wonderous good is God doing here?" Because it makes no sense to complain about it. God never fails. He never causes pain without a good reason. He never does what's wrong. Why do bad things happen to good people? To increase our faith. To glorify God. For all sorts of good things God is doing at that very moment. It's just hard to remember when we are one of those with little faith.
4 comments:
In regard to your opening statement, how could anyone come to the conclusion that Jesus was caught off guard by the death of Lazarus when He knew he was dead before He even left to visit? What kind of lack of faith does it take to not take God at His word when He says He already knew something?
I think, when they've made that argument, they have not accounted for the context. They're looking at a perception (Jesus was human) and asking, "Why did He cry?" without looking at His own claim that it was planned.
To my mind, the common question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” contains two faulty notions--specifically, the phrases “good people” and “bad things.” First, there are no “good people” and therefore none who merit only “good things” in life. Second, as you pointed out today, what we interpret as “bad things” is something else to God. We judge events and circumstances to be “bad” partially due to our shortsightedness about possible positive outcomes, but God does not have such limitation and will use any and all things for His good purposes. Seeing how He has transformed “bad” into “good” in our life requires “20/20 hindsight,” so we often can’t see His work until much time has passed; happily, God has all eternity in His “mind’s eye” and doesn’t need to rush His good work.
P.S. I agree that Jesus was not “caught off guard” about Lazarus’s death but wept out of sorrow over the human condition--being fully mindful of the suffering that He would experience a short time later in order to become the Resurrection and the Life for us sinners.
Lorna, the best answer I ever heard to the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" was "They don't" for the reasons you gave. There are no good people, and for God's people, all things work together for good.
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