Tragedy and Chess Pieces (John 11)

How do you define Tragedy?

Sometimes I wonder what tragedy really is. I know the obvious ones: natural disasters, genocides, losing a loved one, great sickness or loss. Something tragic happens right? It seems many times that we see tragedy as sudden but many times is comes on slowly and isn’t quite as dramatic as we might think. Maybe tragedy would include a longsuffering illness, the slow decline of mental faculties, perhaps the slowly sinking into debt?

John 11 tells two stories of tragedy. In the first story Jesus is told of a rather sudden illness that has come upon his friend Lazarus. Instead of going to him Jesus waits another 3 days before setting out. He also makes some rather disturbing comments about it. Lazarus’ illness has a purpose in the glory of God. Is God just playing around with us like chess pieces to bring him glory? Some think he does. Jesus’ reaction to confronting the death of his friend however shows that even if God is uses tragedy to fulfill his purposes – he doesn’t like tragedy. Jesus wept. It’s the shortest verse in the bible. The God of the universe incarnated, weeps, is deeply moved at the loss of his friend and the pain it causes his loved ones. Jesus does bring glory out of this tragedy as he raises Lazarus from the grave and many believe that he is now the messiah – the way, the truth, and the life.

The second story of tragedy in this chapter is one of slow growing tragedy over generations of law keeping Pharisees. When people believe in Jesus the church leaders of the day see this as a threat. “If the people chase after this Jesus, the Romans will come and take our status of power and rulership away from us.” Then the high priest speaks prophesy without knowing it. “It is better for the one man to die for the many.” The tragedy here is the slow hardening of the hearts of the leaders of Israel to the final end of killing their messiah. Yet even in this, glory is brought through tragedy and we see that we are not simply pawns in this mess of pain. Jesus, God incarnate, is also a player in this game. He is the lead in this story. He doesn’t just move us around for his glory. He is with us through it all bringing glory out of the tragedy.

I haven’t had a sudden tragedy in my life lately, rather a slow creeping one called debt. Going back to school is a good choice and I am glad that God has given me this opportunity, but sometimes I wonder if I am a pawn and if I can really trust him to bring me out of this growing debt. Today I find strength to believe as I read the stories in John 11. God has a purpose of glory in mind and I must wait on him.

May we see the glory of God come out of the tragedy in our lives, may they be causes for us and those around us to believe in who he is, and while we wait may we hold on to Jesus.

Remembering Grandad (John 10)

This last Friday night Feb 23rd my Grandfather died. As I reflect on his life I am reminded of a man who pursued life. As a child I knew him as a loving grandparent who would take us to the park, taught us how to fly kites, a man covered in paint who had great patience and exuberance over a child's painting, a musician who loved to hear his grandchildren play their feeble songs on the piano and who picked up his violin to play along. He was the man who taught us all how to dance, not only around the dance floor flowing with grace and music, but through life. This is what he did, he danced with life as a partner flowing and moving from one phase of life to the next.

After retiring from teaching at Western Washington University, he began painting with water color in earnest. He had always done art but now he really dove into the dance. Painting tours around the world, art shows and galleries displaying his work. Life led him into writing as well producing stories and books. And he continued to love well. He always upheld personal relationships and connection as his highest value.

He also knew when to rest. He was never ashamed to lie down on the floor for a 20 minute power nap. Rising refreshed and off to the rest of life. Open heart surgeries caused him to rest and recover, but soon he was once again up and moving again walking the WWU campus. Grandad knew the voice, the call, the lead of abundant life. I am sure that he was not perfect and I know he was human because he is now at rest, but I know he pursued the dance of life always.

Jesus said in John 10:10 he came to give live in abundance. This was the life, which Grandad sought after, and abundant and full life. While I don't think he would have called Jesus the source of this abundant life he pursued it nonetheless. He heard the voice of life resonate deep within his heart. Just before Jesus makes the offer of abundant life, he tells us there is a thief that has come to steal kill and destroy. Today I feel the work of the thief. The dance floor is silent, empty and still. I walk out looking for my grandfather to be moving across the wooden paths, but he's not there anymore. He has been stolen from us...from me.

The voice of the thief has been trying to get through to me the past few days. "Wouldn't it be easier if this were all over?" he whispers, "Just let the dance floor go completely silent, the dance of life simply ends empty." But this is not the voice of a resurrected Christ, and this is not the voice my Grandfather heard. For the voice of Christ strikes up the music once more and invites us to dance again.

So may we dance...my dear friends and family. May we remember Grandad and dance...

Still in the Dark (John 9)

Can you see yet? Cause I'm not sure that I can.

I realized the other day that I really just want to live a life of Joy. I don't want to be stuck in the muck anymore. So much time is wasted in worry and disbelief. It's like a darkness, a fog, a layer of thick mist that you just can't seem to look through. Joy is above the clouds. When you are rising up and up on the plane you know...and you finally rise above the clouds to the clear sky. When the blindness of worry is finally removed and the sight of joy is finally discovered. Even though I have realized it is joy and clarity that I want...It is really hard to break through the clouds. If I could just be grateful for the things I have in my life, live in joy, and passionately work hard for the things that I still need. God has given me the skills I need...so why am I blind in worry instead of soaring with the joy of hard work and accomplishment. I often feel like I'm still in the dark...

In John Chap 9 Jesus comes across a man who has been blind sense birth. The disciples even ask who sinned the man or his parents that he would be born this way. Jesus replies that neither have sinned but he is blind so the glory of God can be revealed. Jesus mixes spit with dirt and puts the mud on the man's eyes. He tells him to go and wash and when the work of washing is done the man can see. It just hit me just now what this is saying. When we are faithful even when we are still blind, when we do the things that Jesus has sent us to do...at the end of the task our eyes will be opened.

I have been reading this same passage for the last three days without blogging on it, because I just couldn't break through the blindness. And yet when I do the thing that God has given me to do, blog, the clarity comes in the obedient service to my Lord. The blind man when he comes through the ordeal with church discipline is once again confronted with Jesus. When he realizes who Jesus is and has faithfully defended the miracle from God in the midst of the darkness of the church, he is able to see who Jesus really is. His response is to bow down and worship Jesus, something only reserved for God. 

The members of the church government tell the man they don't know where Jesus is from the man is simply faithful with the testimony that he has. I don't know all the theology, but what I know is I was blind and now I see. Only someone who is from God can perform such miracles. Faithfulness in the midst of darkness leads to the clarity of who Jesus is and the sight to believe and worship.

If you are still in darkness today, as I feel so many times, may we be faithful to trust and serve in Jesus and find that we will have sight on the other side. Whether our darkness is financial worry, the oppression of church leadership gone wrong, or the debilitation of some physical condition…we can be faithful to our God and come into the light. May we worship him in the darkness and the light.