A Question That Could be Either Sincere or Cynical!

Read: Luke 7:11-17; Mark 5:35-43

Sometimes the same words can either be words that show a person is seeking to understand something or mock the one being queried. For example, when Jesus stood before Pilate, Pilate asked "what is truth?", John 18:38. Depending on the governor's tone of voice and body language, there are at least two very different thoughts that might have been in his mind. The question might have been sincere. A desire to know if truth existed and perhaps even if there might be anything that was truly irrefutable. Or, perhaps Pilate was mocking the idea that anything could be counted on as truth and saying nothing really was rock solid. If we had been there, perhaps we would know the truth about Pilate's question. Sincere or snarky?

There is a question that we who love Jesus often hear. In fact, most of us have asked it ourselves. Sometimes when it is asked, people truly are longing for answers, and at other times, they are simply trying to stonewall. The Question? “What about all the sad and truly tragic things that happen? Why does God, if there is a God, allow so much pain.” 

There is not a simple answer here. Yes, there is truth we can share regarding the sin, sadness and sorrow that is a part of the world in which we live. Unleashed upon us because of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God, Genesis 3. Yes, praise God we have the promise that one day, God will step in and completely make all things new, Revelation 21-22. Then and only then will the world be as we long for it to be in the here and now. A place where there are no more tears, unfulfilled dreams and evil! What promises we have to stand upon and share! Those truths are rock solid and tender. Realities that should be sensitively shared in God's timing with those who are sincerely questioning. This is not all there is! Praise God!

But wait, there's more truth given to us in the gospels that can remind us and others that there is comfort in the here and now. We find a few of them in the Savior's reactions to the pain that He encountered when He, the God/Man walked among us, John 1:14.

His interaction with the widow of Nain, Luke 7:11-17. Talk about a sorrowful circumstance. In a time when there was little help for a widow, we meet her. This unnamed lady who was about to bury her only son. Not only was she carrying the heavy grief of the death, but it is likely that there was no one upon whom she could rely upon for her day-to-day sustenance. At least, that is how it appears. Jesus words were simple. He told her not to cry. If we had been there to hear the Master's tone of voice, we would have heard not a directive but words of tenderness. Not a harsh command not to weep, but words of understanding and comfort. Can we imagine the joy all whom were there experienced when Jesus gave the widow's son back to her. Whole and healthy! Oh, how the Savior must have smiled to see the joyful reactions of those who had expected only sorrow when He transformed their sadness into joy! But someone might say that Jesus isn't walking among us. He isn't interrupting funeral processions. That's true, but His tenderness towards those who hurt can be a balm for us and for us to share when people have sincere questions. His words were not dismissive. He didn't tell the widow not to cry in a "blow off her pain" kind of a way. Instead, His words were a reminder that He understood and had experienced pain. It is likely that she didn't know that, but we do, Hebrews 4:14-16.

The raising of the Synagogue ruler's daughter, Mark 5:35-43 This incident differs a bit from the widow's encounter with Jesus because this man came to Jesus. He cried out to the Savior on behalf of his twelve-year-old daughter who was dying. We can only imagine the frustration he surely felt when Jesus Who agreed to come to his aid right away, stopped to interact with a woman. I know they didn't wear watches, but we can imagine the seconds flying by as Jesus delayed his coming to Jairus' house. Then the worst news the man could have received came. He was told not to bother Jesus any longer. His daughter had died. It is at this point that Jesus told the ruler to not be afraid. He should only believe.

Let's stop and think of those words. Not a harsh command but encouraging words to continue the in the belief the ruler had already displayed. After all, he had called for Jesus, and Jesus had been on His way. Who would he listen to? Those who had come with the awful news or the One Whom he had called for only minutes before? He chose Jesus' words. Really, it was a promise. He could have chosen to believe that hope was gone, but instead, he believed the words of the Master.

Once again, this story is balm for us. Not because we believe that everyone will be healed here on earth. We know that isn't presently true; however, we have words and promises from the Bible that are as certain as the words Jesus gave to the centurion. 

Let's look at just a few of the many promises we have. Words that are as certain as Jesus' words to Jairus.

Psalm 46:1--God is a very present help in times of trouble. Let's be honest and real. We wish that there were no times of trouble. However, since there is, how encouraging it is that we have the Almighty God with us to help. He is no by-stander simply observing. He is the One Who has all wisdom, all power and He is ever present.

Romans 8:28--Yes, we know this promise by heart, don't we! It is an incredible promise for those of us Who love God and long to see His purposes fulfilled. The hard thing for us is that we can't fathom how so many situations could be fitted together for our good and His glory.

Several weeks ago, a friend was trying to complete a puzzle that didn't have connecting border pieces. How can that be done? That's how we feel sometimes. We hold up our little puzzle pieces and they don't fit anywhere. We try to place them in a spot, but then, the picture changes. Even so, we have the promise from Romans 8:28 that is as certain as Jesus' walking with Jairus back to his house. The carrying out of God's word is as certain as if it has already taken place. Backed up by the One Who created everything we see out of nothing, Genesis 1.

The question regarding the tragic situations still is a difficult one, and the truths we have to hold out are not meant to be a quick fix but a healing balm to soothe. More understanding will be given to us in God's time, 1 Corinthians 13:12.