There is likely nothing more painful than the death of a loved one. I have conducted funerals for people I didn’t know, people I did know but had no special relationship with, friends who were very dear to me, and also my parents. Each had its own type of sorrow, depending on the nature of the personal connection.
Watching the responses of the families in their grief never fails to move me. In a real way it brings me into their moment of sorrow and, sometimes, profound spiritual pain pouring forth from the questions aimed toward God: “Why?” or “Why not?”
The account of the drama and trauma surrounding the crucifixion and death of Jesus overflows with heart-wrenching agony. His mother, disciples, and onlookers dared to ponder and ask bold questions. Their grief was not hidden from the crowd or from Jesus as He hung on the cross, and their confusion and puzzlement permeated their minds and hearts.
We live on the other side of the story; we know what happened. Jesus rose from the grave, showing His power and authority over all things, including death. As we approach the Easter season, that fact is of utmost importance and joy. But at the cross of Calvary, the answers were not immediately known or at least understood. That’s important to remember as we face life’s daily challenges and some of the very same questions invade our minds.
Our pain and the truth do not always seem to be in step with each other or even moving to the same music.
The Jews were looking for a royal Messiah with kingly power to be the conquering leader, not a man who hung out with commoners, the “unclean,” foreigners, and sinners. It is not as if Jesus had been timid or reserved in proclaiming who He was, both to the ruling class as well as His followers. He made it plain that He would suffer and die. But for all of them it seemed unreal, impossible, and illogical that such a thing could really happen. But it did.
The death of Lazarus was a huge object lesson of what was to come with Jesus. Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus and the brother of Mary and Martha, was very ill, and word of it was sent to Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to immediately rescue His friend to heal him as He did so many other people. Instead, He stayed away until Lazarus was dead. Mary and Martha and the crowd were confused, in grief and disappointment…may I even suggest a bit of anger?
First Martha, then Mary said the same thing to Jesus: “If only you had been here…” The questions—“Why?” “Why not?” “If only”—filled their minds and overwhelmed their hearts. “How could this happen? Why did you let it happen?”
And can we be honest? Those questions show up in our lives as we face painful, confusing circumstances. We wonder if God has forgotten us, like Jesus appeared to have done with Lazarus and his sisters. It’s a difficult dance we do, wanting to trust the Lord but our hearts barely surviving. Our pain and the truth do not always seem to be in step with each other or even moving to the same music.
Shift back to Jesus’ last hours. As He hung on a cross, these startling words came out of His mouth: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Jesus knew the reason: It was so that He could bear the sin of the world on His shoulders as the perfect Savior for us. He knew the end from the beginning. He knew the rest of the story. But still, the question “why?” came from Jesus’ lips for the listeners to hear and for us to read.
Martha and Mary asked it about Lazarus, the followers of Jesus at the foot of the cross asked it about Him, and Jesus asked His Father the same question: “Why?”
In each case, the answer was ultimately the same:
“This…is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
—John 11:4, NASB
This was Jesus’ answer when He received the news that Lazarus was sick. This reply was likely confusing to the disciples, especially when they discovered that Lazarus indeed had died. And they were confused again when Jesus told them He Himself would die. Let’s add our names to the list: We’re confused and questioning when we try to reconcile the truth of the resurrection and God’s statements of care for us when our broken hearts threaten to overwhelm us.
But that is the message of Easter—not bunnies and eggs and a ham dinner (as fun as those can be). The resurrection of Jesus means there is hope and there are answers. There are problems that intersect with promises, not from “hope-so” faith, but from an empty tomb, a resurrected Savior, and a victorious ending, no matter what winding road we face to get there.
Jesus wept at the death of His friend, ultimately grieved at the very existence of death – the last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). And He knew what was ahead for Him, the immense cost He would pay to destroy death forever.
Don’t miss this, whatever you do: The price that was paid on the cross can set you free.
This side of heaven, and with our limited perspective, we will not have “the answer” to many of our struggles and pain and heartache and questions. Never in this sin-sick, sin-stained world and life.
But the same question Jesus asked Martha is the question for all of us.
“I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
—John 11:25–26, NASB
Today, Jesus calls out to you to give your heart and life to Him. To believe in Him, to trust Him, to turn from your sin to embrace His forgiveness. He takes your pain, your hurt, your distress and applies the balm of the truth of the resurrection. He is the ultimate answer, and when you experience a full life in Him, you can’t help but dance.
The people who followed Jesus and witnessed the crucifixion looked and found no apparent answer to the “why” questions on Friday or Saturday. You may find yourself now in that crowd. But Resurrection Sunday changed everything for them – and you. Trust Him today.
He is risen; He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Chris is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL (M.Div.) and has served as a pastor in churches in the Midwest. Chris and his wife Marty have been married for 40 years. Chris currently teaches the Fundamentals of the Faith class and serves in the Prayer Ministry here at Faith Bible Church.
View Resources by Chris Tornquist
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Editor’s Note: This article is by one of Faith’s global partners. It is posted anonymously to protect their family and their future co-workers in parts of the world where evangelism is restricted by governments and other authorities. ...