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.