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John 11:35 – The Problem of Pain for God
One of the wondrous revelations within John 11 is that the problem of pain is not just a problem for mankind. It is a problem for God. Does that strange at best, or at worst, blasphemous? If so we are missing the reality behind the relationships which are filled with pain not just for the people involved but for God Himself. The problem for God is not that pain overcomes Him. The problem for God is that pain overcomes those whom He loves. God hurts when we hurt; God hurts because we hurt (John 11:33-36). If we truly believe that Jesus was God walking the earth in flesh, then we must truly believe that Jesus weeping on earth is accompanied by weeping within heaven. If there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10) there must also be weeping over one sinner who does not (Ezekiel 6:9). If God tells us to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), then He must weep too.The very concept of God suffering was a problem for the Greeks and is still a problem for some Philosophers today. For some Greek pagans, man’s suffering was a source of amusement for the Greek gods. Therefore why would the gods suffer when man does? For those more serious ancient philosophers, they believed “god” could not suffer.
“To any Greek reading this – and we must remember that it was written for Greeks – this would be a staggering and incredible picture. John had written his whole gospel on the theme that in Jesus we see the mind of God. To the Greek the primary characteristic of God was what he called apatheia, which means total inability to fee any emotion whatsoever.
How did the Greek come to attribute such a characteristic to God? They argued like this. If we can feel sorrow or joy, gladness or grief, it means that someone can have an effect upon us. Now, if a person has an effect upon us, it means that for the moment that person has power over us. No one can have any power over god; and this must mean that God is essentially incapable of feeling any emotion whatsoever. The Greeks believed in an isolated, passionless and compassionless God.” (Barclay, John, vol.2, p.98)
Even today, Classical Theology of Religion has not changed much from this paganistic view of God by teaching the “Impassibility (from Latin “not able to suffer, experience emotion”) of God.” This describes the theological doctrine that God does not experience pain or pleasure from the actions of another being.
“Classic theism teaches that God is impassible — not subject to suffering, pain, or the ebb and flow of involuntary passions. In the words of the Westminster Confession of Faith, God is ‘without body, parts, or passions, immutable.’
“It is important to note that the debate regarding the doctrine of impassibility does not center on whether God has feelings or emotions. Though some would argue for the position that God does not possess any feelings or passions, those such as Paul Helm who seek to preserve impassibility do not view God as completely apathetic. Rather, the question is whether or not God’s passions are voluntary or involuntary. Does God actually react to his creation in an emotional way? Can humanity hurt God, emotionally?” (theopedia.com)
Yes, yes, and again yes.
John 11:33-35 HCSB When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. (34) “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.” (35) Jesus wept.
Why? Without getting into all of the foreshadowing aspects of John’s use of “troubled” let’s keep it simple, yet sublime. Why did Jesus weep? Why did He hurt? We are told at the beginning of the narrative – Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (John 11:5). When people we love hurt, we hurt. – weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). How can we expect Perfect Love to do any less?
When we suffer, I wonder if we forget that God is suffering too. We focus on the omnipotence of God and wonder, “Does God care?” We sometimes forget the omnibenevolence of God which focuses on His love and forget that love hurts. Imagine having the power to stop the pain, and yet knowing something beyond the immediate suffering that keeps you from stepping in and easing the torment. Imagine the torment of waiting. Imagine seeing the coming glory. Maybe God suffers even more than we can imagine.
The chapter begins with pain and ends with pain. In the forefront of the story is the sickness and death of Lazarus, the concern and sorrow of Martha and Mary. In the end there is fear, loathing, and plans for murder. In between Jesus weeps (John 11:35).
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