Daddy, why did he have to die?

As parents, we have all had to explain the concept of death to our children at one time or another.  Perhaps the loss of a pet has given us an opportunity to teach the biological cycle of life to our children; or, if the pet died in an accident, we may have taken the opportunity to teach children about how fragile life is, and how it is important to follow safety guidelines.  It is more difficult to explain the death of a loved one, either a friend or a relative.  Sometimes we must admit to our children, and to ourselves, that we just don't know why.

In the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of John, some dear friends of Jesus sent word to him that their brother, Lazarus, was sick.  They begged him to come and heal Lazarus.  The sisters, Mary and Martha, had seen Jesus heal others: complete strangers on whom Jesus had compassion.  They knew he was able.  They assumed, because of their friendship, that he was also willing.

Jesus sent an answer back with the messenger that had brought the news of Lazarus' illness.

When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."--John 11:4

When the disciples, who knew of Jesus special friendship with this family, heard this, they probably thought it was a good thing--the sickness would not result in death, and that Lazarus would recover.  They also knew that it was not a good time to travel.  Lazarus lived in Bethany, which was about two miles from Jerusalem.  The Pharisees and High Priest in Jerusalem had put a price on Jesus' head--they wanted Jesus dead.  So it came as no shock to them that, although "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days." (John 11:5-6).

However, on the third day, Jesus told his disciples that they would go to Judea, the region where Jerusalem is.  They strongly warned him against this move.  The Jewish leaders were ready to assassinate him.  They already knew that Jesus had said that Lazarus wouldn't die.  In fact, Jesus made a cryptic remark about Lazarus falling asleep, and the disciples totally missed the reference.  If he was sleeping, wasn't that a good thing? Wasn't rest for him just what the doctor had ordered?  Jesus had to explain to them that Lazarus had already died.  This likely confused the poor disciples--if Lazarus was dead, why go to him?  Especially since Jesus would likely be arrested and killed if he went anywhere near Jerusalem.  Nevertheless, Jesus' mind was made up, so the disciples prepared to go with him.  "Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him'."

Jesus' friend Lazarus was dead.  Jesus, if he went to Jerusalem, would probably be killed.  Thomas felt like loyalty to Jesus was a thing worth dying for, and he was resigned to his own death, as well.  But Jesus didn't go there to die.  He went there to glorify God.  Everything Jesus did was to glorify God.  Even allowing his friend Lazarus to die would glorify God.  And it would be a foreshadowing of Jesus' own death and resurrection.

See, people then, like people now, believe that death is final.  Sure, they may believe in a resurrection some day.  And if you pressed them, most who believe in the resurrection at the last day don't know whether it will be a physical resurrection, or merely a spiritual one, where "those who have fallen asleep will rise to meet him in the air."  And we certainly can't predict when that resurrection will take place.  Jesus was showing his friends and disciples that 1) death is not final, and 2) he had power over death, and could predict the day of his own resurrection.  It would be within 3 days of his death.  But the disciples didn't see that until much later.

The way that people react to Jesus, both in this story and also today, tell a lot about that person.  As we have seen, the disciples were looking out for Jesus, trying to protect his image, trying to keep him from being killed.  They probably also had a personal reason to protect Jesus: as he went, so would they.  But as we will see, those in Jerusalem would either see Jesus in faith, in despair, or in doubt.

Looking to Him in Faith
When Jesus made it to Bethany, his friend Martha met him on the way. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." (John 11:21-22).  Her faith was greater than that of the disciples.  She met Jesus in faith and hope.  The question on her mind was the same question everyone had, as we will see in a minute.  Jesus had demonstrated the ability to heal; Lazarus was sick; therefore Jesus could have healed him.  He could have prevented this death.  Why?  Martha had an idea of why.  That is why she said that God would hear Jesus' prayers, implying that if Jesus prayed for Lazarus to be raised from the dead, God would hear him and make it happen.

Her faith was relevant to the situation.  It was real.

Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believe in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never did.  Do you believe this?"  "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." --John 11:23-27

She knew in her heart that Jesus would do things that her mind could not conceive.  Her faith in him was real.  God would be glorified, whatever happened.

Running to Him in Despair
Jesus was still outside the village, and Martha went to get Mary, who was still mourning in the house.  With a little encouragement from Martha, Mary went out to meet Jesus.  Sometimes we get so overwhelmed by our own circumstances that we need some encouragement to even pray about it.  That's what despair does--it drives a wedge between us and our Savior.  As Martha put feet to her faith, she led Mary to where Jesus was.  Mary fell at Jesus' feet, not in worship but in mourning: she was too emotional to stand.  Her question was the same as her sister: why hadn't Jesus come to prevent all this?  "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Jesus had compassion on her.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see," they replied.  And Jesus wept. --John 11:33-35

Jesus was God in the flesh.  He had the power to forgive, the power to heal, and the power to even raise people from the dead.  Yet he was not without emotion.  He felt empathy with Mary, who was so overcome with grief that she could not see who was before her.  He wept with her in her sorrow.  That's what Jesus does: he meets us where we are.  Whatever situation we find ourselves in, He is there.  We only need to look for him.

Eyeing Him with Doubt
There were many from Jerusalem who had come to mourn with Martha and Mary.  Lazarus had no doubt been a pillar of the community. He was well respected, even loved by many of the Jews who had come to his memorial service four days after Lazarus' death.  They looked at Jesus, who had risked a lot to be there.  They saw him weeping with Mary.  They had mixed feelings about Jesus--his loyalty and friendship were admired, but the same nagging question ate at their hearts.

Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"  But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" --John 11:36-37

Imagine their surprise when Jesus called on Lazarus to come out of the grave.  Those who doubted before now saw Lazarus standing before them, wrapped in strips of linen with a burial cloth over his face.  Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40).  God had glorified the Son before their eyes, and Jesus had glorified the Father.

Many, no doubt, believed.  Others, however, thought it was a trick--either a body double, or that Lazarus had not actually died.  This was certainly the mind-set of the chief priests and Pharisees, who convened a meeting when they heard of this.

"What are we accomplishing?" they asked.  Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."  Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."   He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one." --John 11:47-52

Some doubters can't see the forest for the trees.  Yes, Jesus performed the miracle, but he must be stopped or we will lose our place in society.  Our whole nation could be turned upside-down!  It's not just that they don't believe, it is that they don't want to believe.  They are comfortable in their unbelief, and want to do everything they can to maintain the status quo.

So whether we eye him with doubt, or fall at his feet in despair, or look to him in faith, we know that Jesus is a force to be reckoned with.  Those who try to obliterate him and his message only serve to show that he is our sacrifice.  Those who are caught up in circumstances beyond our control may become emotional, but if we have a friend who brings us to the feet of Jesus, he can lift us out of despair.  Those whose faith is strong know that God will be glorified in all things; He will fight for us, we only need to be still. (Exodus 14:14)

Again, if you are a parent, your children may hear of Jesus' birth in the coming months, as we approach Christmas.  They may hear of his death, either now or at the arrival of Easter.  What will you tell them when they ask, "Why did Jesus have to die?"  Our response should be, "So that God could be glorified."

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. --Ephesians 3:14-21