When my brother Graham was about ten he went to camp for a week in northern Michigan. There are two things I remember to this day about his return. First, my mother was appalled to discover he hadn't changed his clothes during the entire time, and even worse, when he was given the assignment to memorize any verse in the New Testament, he chose John 11:35. In case you are not familiar with John 11:35, it is the shortest verse in the New Testament, and in fact, the whole English Bible. It simply says, "Jesus wept".
As I write this post I am happy to report that although Graham's health is still very precarious, he is feeling better and about to be discharged from the hospital. I am very thankful that today I am not mourning his loss. This brings me to John 11:35.
Jesus deliberately delayed coming to Lazarus' house so that Lazarus would die and He would raise him from the dead. Jesus knew that Lazarus was going to die. There was no doubt about it. As the God/Man, Christ knew this with perfect certainty. And yet, Jesus did not grieve this loss ahead of schedule. He talked with the disciples about the death of Lazarus without emotion (see vs.11,15). He spoke to Martha with hope, not tears (vs. 23-26). It was not until he saw Mary weeping along with their Jewish friends that He was "deeply moved in spirit" and then proceeded to the tomb where He wept openly.
Two truths I see here in the life of our Lord. First, there is "a time to weep" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). There should be no doubt in any Christian's mind that grieving the loss of a loved one is not only acceptable, but encouraged, given our Lord's example. Yes, I know that some scholars think that Jesus wept because He was grieved about the lack of faith on the part of the mourners. Verse thirty-three could be interpreted in that way. But I believe that Jesus was empathizing with those who were profoundly affected by this sad situation. Based on verse thirty-six; "see how He loved him", and the nature of our Lord, I believe that Jesus was grieved by the pain and suffering of his good friend, even knowing that within minutes he would be alive and well again! Grieving is a Christian response to death. Yes, the person is better off if he or she knows Christ as Savior. Yes, we will see him or her again if we are trusting in the Lord. But grieving the death of a friend or loved one is good, right and appropriate for Christians. Our Lord is our best example. We don't need to make excuses, apologize or be ashamed of our tears.
Having said that, it is also clear to me that the time for grief is not until someone has died. While there is life, even though death is certainly coming, we need to enjoy our time with the person who is leaving us. We need to speak of life, not death. We need to focus on God's goodness and purpose. We must not bury people too soon.
Last week some folks had my brother all but buried. But he is still kicking and hopes to keep doing so for a while longer. I am rejoicing that He is still with us, and I will be happy for every day he can remain with his family and live for our Lord. There is a time to weep, but not yet...not yet.
Showing posts with label John 11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 11. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Lessons from John 11: Part Two
When Jesus finally arrived at the home of Lazarus after delaying His coming, the following dialogue took place between Martha and Jesus,
"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give You. Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again'. Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day'. Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God...'" (John 11:21-27)
Here is Martha believing that Christ could heal her brother of a terminal disease. She believes that her brother would be supernaturally resurrected sometime in the future, and she believes that Jesus is "...the Christ, the Son of God..." And yet, she doesn't completely comprehend who she is talking to. Everything she believes is true, but she doesn't fully understand all that Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of God" means. She "believes", but her belief is incomplete. Even after Christ tells her that "I am the resurrection and the life" (that just blows me away every time I read it!), she still doesn't get it! (see verse 39). Jesus is not just "the Teacher" (v. 28), not just a person who can "ask of God", He is God! He can do anything, at any time, because He is God in the flesh!
Now I am not just picking on Martha. There are a lot of people even today who say, "I believe in Jesus!" People that even say "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." But what do they mean by that? They do "believe". I am not denying that they "believe". The question is what is the the context of that belief and is it sufficient to save? (See my post on Luke 8 for more on this subject).
The point is that Jesus delayed his coming so that Lazarus would die (Jesus did not cause him to die, by the way), and He could raise Lazarus from the dead and give Martha and others an opportunity to fully understand and believe who He is. As a result "many...believed in Him" (v. 45). But "some of them", in spite of what they saw did not believe (v. 46). Instead, they went to the religious leaders who heard from eyewitnesses what Jesus had done, and "they planned together to kill Him" (v. 53).
This is one more interesting truth from this passage. People could accept that Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, and yet not believe that He is "the Christ, the Son of God".
The bottom-line is that people can "believe" a lot of things about Jesus, but still fall short of complete belief. Complete belief involves trusting in Christ as the God/Man who died in our place for our sins and rose from the dead (see I Corinthians 15:3-4). Anything less may be belief, but not saving faith.
"Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give You. Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again'. Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day'. Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God...'" (John 11:21-27)
Here is Martha believing that Christ could heal her brother of a terminal disease. She believes that her brother would be supernaturally resurrected sometime in the future, and she believes that Jesus is "...the Christ, the Son of God..." And yet, she doesn't completely comprehend who she is talking to. Everything she believes is true, but she doesn't fully understand all that Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of God" means. She "believes", but her belief is incomplete. Even after Christ tells her that "I am the resurrection and the life" (that just blows me away every time I read it!), she still doesn't get it! (see verse 39). Jesus is not just "the Teacher" (v. 28), not just a person who can "ask of God", He is God! He can do anything, at any time, because He is God in the flesh!
Now I am not just picking on Martha. There are a lot of people even today who say, "I believe in Jesus!" People that even say "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." But what do they mean by that? They do "believe". I am not denying that they "believe". The question is what is the the context of that belief and is it sufficient to save? (See my post on Luke 8 for more on this subject).
The point is that Jesus delayed his coming so that Lazarus would die (Jesus did not cause him to die, by the way), and He could raise Lazarus from the dead and give Martha and others an opportunity to fully understand and believe who He is. As a result "many...believed in Him" (v. 45). But "some of them", in spite of what they saw did not believe (v. 46). Instead, they went to the religious leaders who heard from eyewitnesses what Jesus had done, and "they planned together to kill Him" (v. 53).
This is one more interesting truth from this passage. People could accept that Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, and yet not believe that He is "the Christ, the Son of God".
The bottom-line is that people can "believe" a lot of things about Jesus, but still fall short of complete belief. Complete belief involves trusting in Christ as the God/Man who died in our place for our sins and rose from the dead (see I Corinthians 15:3-4). Anything less may be belief, but not saving faith.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Lessons From John 11: Part One
Right now the hearts and minds and prayers of my extended family are focused on my youngest brother, Graham. He is apparently in the last stages of his fight with cancer. I say apparently because just a little over a week ago he felt well enough to come to America from Australia for an extended visit. Very suddenly he took a turn for the worse and now we are being told that he will not live more than a few days to a few weeks. I am still praying for the miracle that I have prayed for from the beginning of this ordeal. I know that God can say the word and Graham would completely healed. Along with that prayer, I am also asking God to spare him at least until my parents and brother can arrive in Australia tomorrow. Some may see this as a lack of faith on my part, but I don't see it that way. I believe very strongly that God still heals people today. But I also believe just as strongly that God has a perfect plan for each of our lives that will ultimately benefit us and glorify Himself. How our ultimate benefit fits together with God's glory is often difficult for us to understand and accept, but God is able to weave both together in supernatural fashion.
I have heard people say that Jesus healed everyone he met who needed healing. I don't believe you can prove that from scripture. I know of at least one occasion when He definitely did not. When Jesus heard that his very good friend Lazarus was extremely ill, He said;
This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it" (John 11:4).
The bottomline is that Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so that He could come along in a few days and raise him from the dead. There is no doubt as one reads John chapter eleven that the disciples, along with Mary and Martha, had difficulty understanding why Jesus did not heal Lazarus. They all knew that He could. They all knew that Jesus loved Lazarus very much.They put these two truths together and assumed that Jesus would heal him, but He didn't. And when Jesus didn't, it was very disturbing for all involved.
The answer to why Jesus did not heal Lazarus is, first of all, that in every situation of our lives, God seeks to glorify Himself. His glory is the most important thing in this universe. Nothing is greater than that. And not only that, but God is always doing what will ultimately, in the end, glorify Himself the most. Healing Lazarus would have no doubt brought glory to God, but raising him from the dead brought even greater glory to God.
In addition to bringing glory to Himself, God is, at the very same time doing what is ultimately best for us. It may not appear in our best interests at the time, and that is why we struggle with it, but God, because He is God, is able to accomplish both. By not healing Lazarus, and then raising him from the dead, Jesus brought the greatest glory to God, and He also increased the faith of the disciples and Lazarus' sisters. Lazarus suffered for a little while, but then had the opportunity to live again.
I know that God can heal the sick, and even raise the dead. I know that God loves my brother infinitely more than I do. In my mind and heart, this adds up to God healing my brother, even now. But I have to understand and accept that God is going to do what glorifies Himself the most and what is ultimately best for Graham.
If Graham dies in the next few days or weeks, it will be one of the saddest situations for our family and his church family that I can imagine. Only God will be able to sustain us in our grief. But I have no doubt that God will bring incredible glory to Himself, and Graham will live again, only better. May your will be done, O Lord, and give us the grace to accept it!
I have heard people say that Jesus healed everyone he met who needed healing. I don't believe you can prove that from scripture. I know of at least one occasion when He definitely did not. When Jesus heard that his very good friend Lazarus was extremely ill, He said;
This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it" (John 11:4).
The bottomline is that Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so that He could come along in a few days and raise him from the dead. There is no doubt as one reads John chapter eleven that the disciples, along with Mary and Martha, had difficulty understanding why Jesus did not heal Lazarus. They all knew that He could. They all knew that Jesus loved Lazarus very much.They put these two truths together and assumed that Jesus would heal him, but He didn't. And when Jesus didn't, it was very disturbing for all involved.
The answer to why Jesus did not heal Lazarus is, first of all, that in every situation of our lives, God seeks to glorify Himself. His glory is the most important thing in this universe. Nothing is greater than that. And not only that, but God is always doing what will ultimately, in the end, glorify Himself the most. Healing Lazarus would have no doubt brought glory to God, but raising him from the dead brought even greater glory to God.
In addition to bringing glory to Himself, God is, at the very same time doing what is ultimately best for us. It may not appear in our best interests at the time, and that is why we struggle with it, but God, because He is God, is able to accomplish both. By not healing Lazarus, and then raising him from the dead, Jesus brought the greatest glory to God, and He also increased the faith of the disciples and Lazarus' sisters. Lazarus suffered for a little while, but then had the opportunity to live again.
I know that God can heal the sick, and even raise the dead. I know that God loves my brother infinitely more than I do. In my mind and heart, this adds up to God healing my brother, even now. But I have to understand and accept that God is going to do what glorifies Himself the most and what is ultimately best for Graham.
If Graham dies in the next few days or weeks, it will be one of the saddest situations for our family and his church family that I can imagine. Only God will be able to sustain us in our grief. But I have no doubt that God will bring incredible glory to Himself, and Graham will live again, only better. May your will be done, O Lord, and give us the grace to accept it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)