When God Doesn't Make SenseSample

When, Jesus?

If you’ve lived at least a couple decades, you’ve most likely experienced death. No matter who we lose or how we lose them, death is arguably the most difficult thing we face. Maybe it’s the seeming finality of death that is so hard. In comparison, every other pain we experience seems treatable, preventable, repairable, or at least tolerable.

For many followers of Christ, the moment we realize a loved one is really gone is when we experience our deepest doubts of God. Streaming thoughts turn into silent prayers, “God, how could You let this happen?” and, “Are you even listening?” and, “Do you care?” and, “Are you even there at all?” Basically, we accuse God of being either an imposing fake or an absent jerk.

When close friends and followers of Jesus—Mary and Martha—told him their brother Lazarus was sick and dying, Jesus did not come. Even though it was only a two-mile walk, Jesus let Lazarus die, then let Mary and Martha grieve alone before finally coming. When he did go, Lazarus was already decaying in a sealed grave. Mary stayed home, and Martha let Jesus know that He was late. Then, Jesus called for Mary, who came weeping. Jesus’ responses to Mary and Martha are some of the most powerful scriptures in the Bible. When Martha told Jesus he could have kept Lazarus from death, Jesus responded, “… I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die … ” Then, when Mary wept, Jesus wept.

Jesus’ tears paint not only a picture of a God who hurts when we hurt, but also a God who hurts because we hurt. He is not the origin of death and separation. Sin is. He is the very one who looked death in the eye and conquered it for us. He understands, better than we, the true effects of death in the world and life He created for us. So, just because He doesn’t stop pain from happening to us, doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt Him too.

If you finish the story, you know Jesus wept right before he brought Lazarus back to life. He also knows that for whoever believes in Him—including people we love—death is not permanent, and life with Him is eternal. Does it still hurt when people die? Yes. Does God hurt with us? Yes.

Pause: When you lost a loved one, how did you characterize God? Fake, jerk, late, hurting with you, something else? How does knowing, “Jesus wept,” change your experience?