Hope in Hard Times

We don’t always get to see the reasons behind what we go through, but I’ve been fortunate enough in my 42 years to be given spiritual hindsight thus far. I can see where God has moved and redeemed hard things I’ve endured and it’s been a gift to me. However, I know there’s a time coming when I won’t receive that understanding. I’m not looking forward to it by any means, but I am fortifying the foundation of my trust to weather it. There is one story in the Bible that helps me do this, and it is the story of Lazarus. 

This story of is found in John 11, and what I love about it are the insights we get into Jesus’ character, his heart, and his plans for us.

When chapter 11 begins, we’re reminded that Jesus knew Lazarus’ family well. His sisters Mary and Martha were dear to him. We learn more of their friendship in John 12:1-3, when Mary wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair, and anoints them with perfume. She’s a woman who has found both forgiveness and friendship in Jesus. She is the same Mary mentioned in Luke 10:38-42, in the story of Mary and her sister Martha, where Mary again, is found at Jesus’ feet, hanging on his every word.

We will investigate both stories deeper another time, but what I think is important for us to know now is that there is already a bond and friendship formed with this family. Jesus cared deeply for them and knew them personally. Because of this, the family trusted Jesus, and sent for him when Lazarus fell ill. “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick,’” (John 11:3).

Jesus knew how this illness would play out, and tells us the purpose for it from the beginning. “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). We don’t often get to hear this perspective outright, but I believe this is the truth of every single thing we face as followers of Christ. If God is allowing us to go through it, there is a reason for it. That reason, at the end of the day, is always going to be His glory and our good. More about this in a little bit.

The narrative goes on to remind us again that Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Yet still he stays where he is for two more days before announcing it’s time to return to Judea. At first this seems almost cruel. His disciples’ response alludes to their assumptions of the situation.

“‘But Rabbi,’ they said, ‘a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?’” (John 11: 8). Perhaps they thought Jesus was avoiding returning for his own safety. It’s clear they are less than enthusiastic to return themselves. When Jesus again states that Lazarus requires his help, the disciples try to talk him out of it.

Jesus responds, “‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him,’” (John 11:14,15). It becomes clear that Jesus is more interested in God’s purposes than self-preservation. Despite the danger, they go.

When they arrive, Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days. There is a crowd of people with Mary and Martha comforting them. When word of their arrival in town reaches the sisters, Martha goes to Jesus and says,“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 trust and belief are laid bare in her grief. I can almost hear the crack of emotion in her voice as she says this. This seems almost too much to dare to hope.

When Jesus tells her that Lazarus will rise again, Martha believes he’s talking about afterlife, and in a way he is. Jesus says to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25). What Jesus is telling Martha is that he has dominion over even death — physical death and spiritual death. All of it answers to him. The only thing left for her to do is believe. So he asks her plainly, “Do you believe?” Even in her grief, even in her limited scope of the situation, Martha says, “Yes, Lord. I believe,” (John 11:27). I find this incredible.

Martha goes to get Mary and tells her that Jesus is asking for her. She hurries to meet him, and when she sees him she returns to the place she’s been so many times before: his feet. This chokes me up every time. At the feet of her Lord and friend she weeps.

“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,’” (John 11:32).

Jesus, upon seeing his dear friend in despair, and upon seeing those with her grieving, is deeply moved. He does something that blows me away: he weeps with them. Jesus already knows how this story is going to end. He already knows there is a bigger picture at play. He already knows there is victory on the horizon. Yet, he is overcome with compassion for the heartache of the right now. He steps into their suffering and shares their sorrow. This makes me love Jesus even more.

Here’s why — I know how my story ends. I know I’m headed for heaven. I know who my guide is, and I know with everything I’ve got that he is trustworthy. But sometimes, when I am in the throws of tough stuff, what I really need is someone to cry with me. I need someone to sit next to me and say, “This is hard, and I’m not going anywhere.” That is exactly what Jesus is doing here. Yes, he’s going to fix it in his perfect timing. Yes, he’s going to heal it and use it for his glory and our good. But first, and this is always first, he’s going to love us through it. It’s amazing to me. He loves us that much.

Now let’s get to what happens next. Jesus amidst the collective sorrow leads the Martha and Mary and the group that has accumulated to the tomb and tells them to roll away the stone. Martha objects because of the stench that must be inside, but Jesus tells them to do it anyway.

Then, Jesus looks up prays, “‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go,’” (John 11:41-43).

It is wild to picture this scene. This miracle must have been like witnessing something out of a horror film at first. A man wrapped in strips of linen looking like an awful lot like a mummy walks out of a tomb where he has been for four days. All because Jesus told him to.

Jewish burial customs would have left no question that Lazarus was dead. The process would insist that his body was washed with scents such as nard, myrrh, and aloe within hours of his death. He would have been completely wrapped in cloth and then carried to the family’s home, where relatives and neighbors visited to pay respects for several hours. Then, within about eight hours of his death, Lazarus’ body would have been carried to the tomb and laid on a bench cut out of stone. His body would have been highly visible and mourned over the entire time. It would have left no question as to the death of Lazarus for this family and their friends. Which means his resurrection would be unquestioned as well. And there he stood, in the linens they wrapped him in, alive and well. This would have been wild to see.

And now we get to the reason why in the very next verse: “Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him,” (John 11:44).

This miracle was to allow those there to truly see Jesus for who he is and place their trust in him. In his gospel, John calls miracles “signs” time and again, because that’s what they are. Miracles are always signs that point to the one who makes them happen. They bring us to the place where Mary resides, at the feet of Jesus.

Think about it — during those four days people gathered from all over to mourn Lazarus. John tells us this repeatedly. The scripture tells us this is the very place others rejected Jesus and wanted to stone him not too long ago. These are the people Jesus uses the faith of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to minister to. Jesus is heart-broken for their grief to the point of weeping, but he doesn’t leave them stuck in despair. He uses their faith, their struggle, and their victory to bring others to know him better. The point wasn’t Lazarus’ life; he eventually dies again. The point was to show the watching world who actually gives life.  I’m willing to bet Mary, Martha and Lazarus would say seeing their friends come to trust Jesus was worth the heartbreak. He wants to use us in this exact same way.

So, whatever you are facing, I’m sure this is true of what lies ahead for you. Even if you don’t have hindsight yet to see it, this promise remains. If you are in Christ there is victory ahead; where there was once death there is life. And if you are in Christ there is always a testimony being woven in you that others need to hear. In the meantime, we have a friend in Jesus. The one who was there when all things were made is willing to weep with us as we walk it out with him as our guide. I pray the world watching will love him more because of what we’re facing — For his glory and our good.