Last time I answered the question in my title by talking about rejoicing. I tried to be careful to make clear that rejoicing isn’t the same as being happy. It was suggested to me that I needed to say more about that before I move on to what I was planning on writing next: following Jesus. So, here I am. (And thanks to the person who made the suggestion. You know who you are.)
What I’m going to do is talk about grieving.
As we watch Jesus doing His work in our nation these days, it’s obvious that He is using evil. Even a quick look around will confirm that so much of what is going on has to do with different forms of evil: lawlessness, rioting, looting, ineffective leadership, various forms of injustice and more. Seeing all of this, it only makes sense to grieve, to feel sorrow and even broken heartedness.
Now, some will respond by saying something like this. ‘This doesn’t make any sense. It isn’t consistent with your call for rejoicing.’ Obviously, I don’t agree. So, here’s the question that needs to be answered. Is it possible for someone to rejoice in Jesus as He advances the cause of the Gospel while, at the same time, he grieves over the evil that Jesus is using to accomplish His goal?
The answer, as always, is in the Scriptures. The example that came to mind is what happened to Lazarus as recorded in John 11.
Let’s start with this. Why did Lazarus die? Listen to the explanation Jesus gave to the Twelve.
There is, however, another answer to that ‘Why?’ question, another layer to the answer. Lazarus died because Jesus let him die. When He heard about Lazarus’ sickness and the sisters’ request for Jesus to come and heal him, what did Jesus do? He purposely stayed where He was for an extra couple of days (v.6). Jesus stayed until Lazarus had died (vv.11-13).
Actually, it’s helpful to keep in mind that Jesus could have healed Lazarus without going anywhere. The centurion understood this when he said to Jesus,
After a few days, Jesus arrives at Lazarus’ tomb to perform the miracle that will achieve His goal. But before He calls Lazarus from the tomb, what does He do? He responds to the evil of the situation.
So, how are we to respond to what happened with Lazarus? We can rejoice that Jesus has taken another step toward His ultimate goal of saving the world. But at the same time, we can grieve at what Jesus’ friends had to experience for that step to be taken.
Today, we can and should do the same rejoicing and grieving as we continue to see Jesus use terrible evil to achieve His glorious goal.
What I’m going to do is talk about grieving.
As we watch Jesus doing His work in our nation these days, it’s obvious that He is using evil. Even a quick look around will confirm that so much of what is going on has to do with different forms of evil: lawlessness, rioting, looting, ineffective leadership, various forms of injustice and more. Seeing all of this, it only makes sense to grieve, to feel sorrow and even broken heartedness.
Now, some will respond by saying something like this. ‘This doesn’t make any sense. It isn’t consistent with your call for rejoicing.’ Obviously, I don’t agree. So, here’s the question that needs to be answered. Is it possible for someone to rejoice in Jesus as He advances the cause of the Gospel while, at the same time, he grieves over the evil that Jesus is using to accomplish His goal?
The answer, as always, is in the Scriptures. The example that came to mind is what happened to Lazarus as recorded in John 11.
Let’s start with this. Why did Lazarus die? Listen to the explanation Jesus gave to the Twelve.
This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it. John 11:4Lazarus’ death is for the purpose of glorifying the Father and the Son. That’s the goal - a rather good goal - that Jesus is aiming at. It is, surely, something that we can rejoice in.
There is, however, another answer to that ‘Why?’ question, another layer to the answer. Lazarus died because Jesus let him die. When He heard about Lazarus’ sickness and the sisters’ request for Jesus to come and heal him, what did Jesus do? He purposely stayed where He was for an extra couple of days (v.6). Jesus stayed until Lazarus had died (vv.11-13).
Actually, it’s helpful to keep in mind that Jesus could have healed Lazarus without going anywhere. The centurion understood this when he said to Jesus,
Just say the word and my servant will be healed. Matthew 8:8All it would have taken was for Jesus to ‘say the word’ and Lazarus would have been healed from his sickness. But Jesus didn’t say the word. He let him die. And He did that ‘for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it’.
After a few days, Jesus arrives at Lazarus’ tomb to perform the miracle that will achieve His goal. But before He calls Lazarus from the tomb, what does He do? He responds to the evil of the situation.
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. John 11:33 (NKJV).And He is so sad about what has happened that He cries (v.35). He understands the evil that has happened, that He has caused. He grieves over that evil. But then, He does the miracle. His goal is achieved.
So, how are we to respond to what happened with Lazarus? We can rejoice that Jesus has taken another step toward His ultimate goal of saving the world. But at the same time, we can grieve at what Jesus’ friends had to experience for that step to be taken.
Today, we can and should do the same rejoicing and grieving as we continue to see Jesus use terrible evil to achieve His glorious goal.
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