Where Were You Jesus?

Life has no shortages of pain and suffering. Some of it is brought on by ourselves. Some of it brought on by others. Some of it we don’t know why. Maybe brought on by God. Even if not brought on by God, why would a good God allow it?

Mary and Martha asked Jesus this question after their brother Lazarus passed away. Mary and Martha believed in Jesus. They believed he was good. They knew he had performed many miracles. They believed nothing was impossible for him. When their brother was sick, they sent for Jesus knowing he had the power to heal him and believing that he would. Of course he would. He is good. And capable. Why wouldn’t he?

When Jesus finally arrives, it was too late. Lazarus had already passed. The heartbroken sisters confronted Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21,32

Ever been there? “Where were you Jesus? We believed you could heal him, but you didn’t. We called for you, but you didn’t come. When we needed you most, you weren’t here. How could you let this happen?”

How did Jesus respond? He didn’t give a philosophical lecture on life and death or good and evil.  He didn’t use that opportunity to give a bigger picture sermon. What did he do?

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35

He cried with them. Jesus is no stranger to hurting. He knows what unjust suffering feels like. He knows what it’s like to feel forsaken by God. Mark 15:34

We often blame God for the pain in the world. God himself is no stranger to pain. He knows what it feels like to lose a loved one. He took no pleasure in seeing His precious and perfect son unjustly suffer on the cross.

When you hurt, Jesus hurts with you. When you weep, he weeps with you. Jesus is not the source of pain; he’s the cure for it. Jesus is not the cause of death; he’s the resurrection from it.

The story doesn’t end in weeping. Jesus didn’t show up when they wanted and do what they asked. He showed up late and did something even better. He didn’t heal a sick man like they were hoping he would. He brought a dead man back to life. Sometimes it takes some time to see God’s bigger picture unfold.

What happened to Lazarus after that? We don’t know. But we do know, he’s not still walking this earth. How long did he live after being brought back to life? Weeks? Months? Years? We don’t know. But he didn’t stay here forever. He died again.

Jesus didn’t bring Lazarus back to life to allow him to live here on earth forever. He brought him back to life to prove to us that the end of life on earth is not the end of life. So that we would know that death is not the end of life. And therefore, death should not be feared.

God didn’t want to lose his son. Jesus didn’t deserve what we did to him. Through God’s willingness to lose his son, He not only gets his son back, he gets us too.

There is no pain we can feel that Jesus hasn’t already experienced. There is no pain we can feel that Jesus doesn’t feel with us. Knowing this doesn’t take the pain away or make the hurt any less. But we should know that he willingly shares in our pain so that he can also share with us eternity.

Lazarus wasn’t brought back to life to live here forever. We shouldn’t expect to stay here forever either. We shouldn’t expect our loved ones to stay here forever. Jesus could’ve told them that Lazarus was happy, safe, and sound in heaven patiently waiting on our arrival. He could’ve pointed them towards the “hope” of resurrection. But Jesus didn’t want them to simply put their hope in the resurrection. He wanted them to know with all certainty. To be convinced by proof. (Acts 1:3) To be confident that when we leave this world, a kingdom is waiting where we can be united with the Father and the Son. Where we can be re-united with those we love. Death does not have the final say.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26