Near the closing of the film Forrest Gump, Forrest is standing alone at the foot of the grave of his dearly beloved Jenny: “You died on a Saturday morning. And I had you placed here under our tree. . . . Momma always said dyin’ was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn’t.”
I also wish death were not a part of life, for I’m tired of burying family and friends that I love, and then watching those of us who are left behind go through the agony of loss.
Jesus experienced the same thing. The gospel of John tells us that when Jesus saw Mary and others grieving over the death of Lazarus, “a deep anger welled up within him” (John 11:33). Moments later, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
Why did Jesus have such a strong emotional reaction? For the same reason that we do. We were never meant to experience death. Yes, death can be a merciful end to physical suffering. Still, it remains our great and final enemy.
John goes on to write that “Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb” of his friend (John 11:38). It’s almost as if He couldn’t take it anymore. He longed for people to know that in His new world (that would begin after He rose from the dead), “dyin’” would no longer be a part of life (Revelation 21:4). Raising Lazarus from the dead was Jesus’ way of giving those who mourned a hopeful taste of how things were going to change radically in the new heaven and new earth.
Death’s sting is real. At times it’s nearly unbearable. But we have hope for the day when the sting of death is “swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). “Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Samuel 3:1-21
More:
Read Colossians 3:1-4 and consider what it means for you to possess new life in Christ that death cannot touch.
Next:
Why is it normal and appropriate to experience sadness and grief at the sting of death? What does it mean for you to know that Jesus has ultimately triumphed over it?
daisymarygoldr on March 20, 2015 at 5:01 am
A strong emotional reaction of Jesus would be to rush to His friend’s side the moment he heard of his sickness. He did no such thing but deliberately delayed even though he knew Lazarus was dead. Why? So that His disciples will really believe (John 11:14). Believe what? That Jesus Christ is the “Life and resurrection,”
The sting of death was swallowed up in the victorious resurrection of Christ who was foreordained to die before the foundations of the world. To say, the triumphant Life giver was experiencing sadness and grief at the sting of death is— the preaching of another Jesus.
And how do you know “We were never meant to experience death”? Is there a scripture reference for this concept? Let us not become so shortsighted with this life and miss the big picture presented in the Bible. This is what angers and grieves God—miserable mourners who outwardly profess Christ but their hearts are filled with unbelief.
The very fact that God created us from the dust signifies our bodies are designed to deteriorate and die. A clay pot is fragile and not meant for permanent existence. Even for Jesus Christ, the purpose of putting on flesh was to die. This body made of flesh and blood cannot inherit the eternal kingdom of God.
In this present body, we will not be able to see God face-to-face and enjoy perfect communion with Him. We grow tired of living in our earthly bodies and desire to be clothed in new heavenly bodies. For believers, death is deliverance from this physical temporal tent to possess a spiritual body and live with God forever in heaven.
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Death is a defeated foe and holds no fear for us. “We are of good courage, I say, and prefer to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”
Gary Shultz on March 20, 2015 at 7:19 am
You seem to be a good sort of a fellow, so I will question this a little. When I read the angry thing I could not remember that the passage went that way. There could be more; however, the Message and the Living translation seem to be the only ones indicating anger or the like. Deep distress, troubled, emotional conflict, yes, I feel a little hard pressed to be consider anger. This is all starting to sound a little sterile and I confess it is possible, but seemingly difficult from deep anger to weeping in seconds. Ok, I will join you with being angry with death at times, but I think I agree with Mrs. Gump. It’s a judgement call, but I don’t think Jesus anger burned deeply towards His friends. I know I’m sort of kicking your shins, but hey this is why we get to comment. What we should really do is go fishing and talk about this stuff while we are throwing that shaky worm. Thanks for being part of the process, I still enjoy it, hope you do.
Jeff Olson on March 20, 2015 at 10:38 am
Gary, people way smarter than me tell us that the Greek word that the NLT translates “a deep anger welled up within” in John 11:33 is embrimaomai…it’s most basic meaning is to be moved with anger or to snort like an angry horse. If you’ve ever seen a horse get worked up and snort out of it’s nose—it’s pretty intense.
I for one can attest from personal experience that when death takes someone we love that people feel a strong mixture of anger and sadness…that is a normal human reaction we see in Jesus. Death is an injustice of the worse kind…God never meant us to know death…and it should anger us.
BTW…my shins are fine…no worries :)…and I’d be more than happy to take you out fishing and chat more about Jesus and “stuff” if you are ever in this neck of the woods.
Tom Felten on March 20, 2015 at 9:40 am
Jeff, thanks for these encouraging words from God’s Word. Looking forward to the day when Jesus will make all things new!