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John 11 – The Glory of Pain
No one told me about the pain and the suffering, about all the funerals. As a young man focusing on the supposed glories of becoming a preacher, never did I ever think of emotional and spiritual tribulations found at the bedside, in the hospital, at the funeral home, and by the graveside. If I had the power to ease their pain by providing healing and life, I know I would have. To have done so would have been glorious.
I cannot remember attending a funeral as a little child except for one – my Great Grandmother. And then as a teenager, my beloved Grandmommy died. Hearing the news, I cried aloud as I crossed the college campus. I flew home for her funeral. As an adult, way too many funerals have I attended, and yet strangely, not enough. Many friends have passed but I did not get to attend their funerals. As an older man, I have lost grandparents and friends, and seen loved ones suffer, both the living and the dying. If I could have stopped the pain, that would have been glorious.
Jesus attended a funeral and it was glorious. Jesus knew his friend Lazarus was sick and about to die. And yet He stayed away. And yet He let someone He loved die. And it became glorious.
The story of Lazarus usually focuses on his resurrection, on Christ calling out loud, “Lazarus, come forth” (Jn.11:43) – and then Lazarus still wrapped up walking out like a mummy. And that is a story I want to tell, but not yet. To jump too quickly to the resurrection is to miss the true glory.
The death and resurrection of Lazarus is filled with shadows – light and darkness are themes with the gospel of John. One shadow of course is the foreshadowing of Christ’s resurrection and ours (Jn.11:25-26). But surrounding that, there is the very real “shadow of death” (Ps.23:4) of Lazarus, coupled with the foreshadowing of Christ’s death found in the fact and word that He was “troubled” (NASB) or “angered” (HCSB) (Jn.11:33). Then there is the shadow cast upon one’s faith by confusion (11:21,32), wondering how a loving Savior could have allowed this – If you had been here, my brother would not have died (Jn.11:21,32). And finally there is the shadow cast by Satan as we see him use, abuse and manipulate people and situations in order to cause further pain. His shadow creates the darkness in which when people walk they stumble (Jn.11:10).
Behind all shadows there are realities, often cold and hard. And the realities within John 11 are both divine and human. It is easy to read the chapter and focus on the divine element by emphasizing the glorious words of Jesus when he said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn.11:25). But may I suggest that is another element that without it, without this other reality, would make the resurrection of Lazarus and us impossible. And that reality is the cold hard truth of pain, suffering and death. That is the human element. The story of Lazarus is the about the power of God, and the pain of mankind.
John 11 is not just about the resurrection power of God, but rather the death of a friend, the friend of God in the flesh. And it is glorious.
The resurrection of Lazarus is a story not just of jubilation and celebration, but of evil and pain. It is the reverse story of Adam and Eve. Theirs was life leading to death; and Lazarus, from death leading to life. But if we focus only on the resurrection without seeing the pain, the glory is diminished. The evil and pain is everywhere. There is sickness (v.2); concern for the suffering of others (v.3); death (v.14); impending death (v.16); consolation (v.19); confused faith (vv.21,32); weeping (v.33); blame (v.37); decay (v.39); selfishness (v.48); murderous intent (v.50); and sinful collusion (v.57). The pain is physical, mental, emotional, societal, and spiritual. It is around, and within.
It is important for us to learn and remember several important lessons.
- First, the world is filled with suffering and the Bible does not deny nor diminish that reality. To do so would be a lie. There is no pretending or idealism with the scriptures. There is no philosophy or theology that suggests suffering is a state of mind caused by sin.
- Second Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Divine love is a fact. But God loving people – loving us – does not prevent pain and suffering. There is no magical end to problems once we become believers in Christ. If becoming a Christian ended all problems whether physically, mentally, financially, within marriages and with our children, or whatever other realm there is, people would become Christians not so that they could serve God, but so God could serve them.
- Third, there is no truth to the belief that being spiritually minded takes away all concerns in the world. Martha and Mary believed in the resurrection to come, but that belief did not erase her present pain of losing their brother. Yes, it can ease our suffering, and it should (1 Thess.4:13-18). Pain and suffering are real. Death is real. But it is not ultimately victorious.
- Fourth, there is no denying that for even Christians, pain and suffering creates confusion, doubts, and even causes people to blame God. This is a reality that has to be dealt with and not discarded. The problem of evil is a problem, but it can be answered. But we do see a solution. Martha and Mary were prepared for the problem of death by their prior belief. The best way to be prepared to handle pain and suffering is to already believe in God, His power, and His love.
No, never was I told of all the funerals I would have to preach if I became a preacher. But if they had, I am not sure I could have understood the glory behind pain and death.
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