It is a little embarrassing to declare to the whole world
that I was going to start blogging and then to suddenly stop. Yet I kept
looking at John chapter eleven and could not figure out how to process it. I
know what encourages me, but what do I want “out there” so that my kids can
read it one day. Luckily I believe the Lord initiated my brain freeze. In the
past couple of weeks I have heard this preached on twice and both time I was
really encouraged by it.
This portion of scripture really shines a light on my
theology of suffering. Suffering, as horrible as it is has a checkmate. That is
resurrection makes it tolerable. Without resurrection I am not sure how people
process the meaninglessness of suffering but I would have no categories.
Jesus hears that his friend Lazarus is sick. His
response, he waits a couple of days. Here is where the text gets tricky. Is says
“so he waited a couple of days.” He is waiting on purpose. He knows what the
outcome is going to be but he allows the death and suffering to happen. I
believe with all my being it was so that he could check that suffering with the
resurrection of Lazarus.
Both theists and Atheists alike have to deal with suffering.
For us it points to Christ and his redemptive work on the cross and the grave.
For our detractors it is the accident that follows the other accident, life. I
no longer hate atheists, I feel for them. Death is just death. Suffering has no
larger meaning. I don’t see any way around it. As for the people of resurrection
we still don’t know why but we do know how it ends. We don’t ask JK Rowling why
Harry's Parents die but we rejoice at the proof of love in how Harry’s mom dies.
We don’t ask why Gandalf died but we cheer when he comes back. God the ultimate
dramatist gives us the ultimate thing to celebrate. His resurrection and that
we share in it.
New bodies wait, untouched by cancer, depression,
violence. Glorified bodies, the us we always knew we could be. Hallelujah, Christ
is risen.
Happy Lent ;)
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