Why?

Today I went to a funeral of a former coworker’s baby. It was the saddest funeral I have ever been too. The loss of a child is so hard to grasp. They are young, helpless, and completely vulnerable. As I sat there, all I could think of is why. Why God why? Today I read about the war between Isreal and Hamas, as the atrocities and stories come forth, all I could think of is why? Why God why?

I don’t mean for this post to turn into a discussion on good vs evil. Or to discuss God’s sovereignty. There is a time and place for that. But right now what I believe we need to hear, to remember is God’s heart. We catch a glimpse of that when look to Jesus. See one of my favorite stories of Jesus is the one involving Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We find it the the Gospel of John chapter 11. Mary and Martha, Lazarus sisters send word to Jesus to let him know that he whom Jesus loves is ill. His repsonse is odd. He says that Lazarus will not die, but that it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God might be also glorified. Twice we are told that Jesus loved Lazarus, this is to help us as the reader to understand how important Lazarus is to Jesus…yet instead of rushing to his side, which is the normal and expected response. We are told that Jesus tarried two days, then decides to go to Judea and see Lazarus. Now he is reminded of the danger he is in by his disciples, for there are Jews that wish to stone him, but Jesus gives them a crypted answer and then says that Lazarus has fallen asleep, and that He goes to awake him. “Well” the disciples reply, “if he is sick, then rest is the best thing for him.” To which Jesus plainly says “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go with to him” (vs 14-15).

In these first 16 we are told several things. First being how Jesus describes death…as like sleeping. Sleeping is something we can wake up from. Therefore death is not permanant, or final; but a momentary time of stillness from which we will awaken. Second, there was a reason for why things happend. Thirdly Jesus knew from the beginning what was going to happen, and what He was going to do. He even says, that He is glad this is going to happen. For He knows how it will help his disicples to understand who he is. But lets carry on with the story.

By the time Jesus had arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, those who came to comfort Martha and Mary told them that Jesus was coming. Martha when she heard this, she went to go met him. Her immdiate response is “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” (vs 21). Look at what she says. Jesus were where you? We sent for you, we told you what was happening. We know what you can do, we have heard of your miracles, of how you healed many. Why did you tarry, why didn’t you come? She is asking why, why didn’t you stop this, but look at her faith. “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Even though she is hurt, confused and trouble, she still trusts in Him. Jesus simply tells her that her brother will rise again. Martha not understanding fully what he means agrees, say yeah in last days he will rise again. Jesus tells her something so powerful and significant. One of the most powerful statements given. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (vs 25-26). Jesus is clearly stating who he is, and what he gives. This is why Jesus can say that death is but sleeping, for we fall asleep here on earth and awake to eternal glory with our Father. Jesus is life! Not only does He bring life into our dark and deaden hearts, but its eternal life. Something we all earn for, and strive to find. Here Jesus is stating that it is He! Martha states her belief. Although I do not think she still fully understood what it all means. Not yet at least.

The story continues on, it is now Mary’s turn. Martha came and told her that Jesus was here, and calling for her. Mary immediately went to go see him. Their were those with her, who saw her leave. Thinking she was going to the tomb to grieve, they went with her to lend support. Mary upon reaching Jesus falls at his feet, sobbing. She cries out to him “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (vs 32). This question that we have all asked in one shape or another. God we know you see all, we know you understand, we know you hear our prayer. Why didn’t you answer? Why didn’t you heal my loved one? Why God why? Jesus seeing her tears and of those with her, is deeply moved and troubled, he askes where Lazarus is buried, and they show him. Here we get the shortest verse in the Bible “Jesus wept” (vs 35). These two simple words do not convay the emotion that Jesus felt. This isn’t simple tears, or crying. But a loud gut wrenching, soul tearing sobbing. Jesus saw, and felt the emotion of those around him. But He also felt the loss himself. Remember, we are told that Jesus also loved Lazarus. He deeply, deeply feels this loss. But don’t forget, Jesus knew what he was going to do. In a few short minutes, he was going to raise up Lazarus! But he still feels the effect of death, the complete and total loss of a dear friend and companion. Those who saw this were touched by his depth of love, but others questioned him. Here this man could open the eyes of the blind, could he not have come and healed him? Again we hear the question, why God why? Perhaps here is a subtle accustion of does he really love Lazarus, if he did why didn’t he come and heal him?

Jesus, comes to the tomb and askes the stone to be moved. This naturally raised questions. He has been buried for four days, he is going to smell horribly. Surely Jesus wouldn’t want to see him, or touch him. For to touch a dead body, one then defiles themself. Jesus reminds Martha that if she believes then she would see the glory of God. So they took away the stone. Jesus then speaks to God saying “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me” ( vs 41- 42). Then Jesus says “Lazarus, come out.” (vs 43). And Lazarus came out, with his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus then commands them to remove the buriel clothes.

This story is utterly remarkable. Because it assures us of Jesus love, of His emotions, of his understanding of loss and the unbearable pain it brings. Jesus experienced all of this, knowing that he was going to raise up Lazarus. But he didn’t minimize their suffering, or chide them for their lack of faith, or rebuke their questions. He grieves with them. Heb 4: 15-16 NIV “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may recieve mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Jesus knows our loss, we can approach him, we can ask those why questions, we can pour our heart out to him. It is only then that we can find grace to handle the unthinkable pain.

You see the story doesn’t end there, in verse 45 it says that many Jews who had seen this believed in Jesus. This event further drives the Jews to find Jesus and arrest him. Which eventually leads to Jesus being crucified. Thus allowing him to be that eternal life for us. For it is only through Jesus death and resurrection that we have eternal life. It is only through Jesus dying does he conquer death, that ultimate reminder that there is something wrong with this world.

Although there was a clear reason given for Lazarus, we don’t always get that, as in the case of my coworkers baby passing, or the horrers in Isreal. But we do know God sees, he understands and he is weeping with us. We do know that he will set all things right, that every tear he holds in his hand. So please, ask those questions, pour out your heart to him, rant and rave…then humbly trust and rest in Him.