31 Mar Four Days Fresh

Why do bad things happen to good people?

There are many valid answers to this question.

One that I noticed was…

Bad things happen to good people to deter good faith.

This comes from John 12, after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. 

“Meanwhile, a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for ON ACCOUNT OF HIM (Lazarus) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him.” 

John 12:9-11

The Jewish population was eager to see Lazarus, which makes sense. 

He and his sisters were well known in their community.

I’m sure everyone was aware that Lazarus was sick to the point of death.

They probably visited, offered words of hope, brought food and home remedies.

Word even made it miles away to Jesus, as Martha begged Him to come and heal her brother. 

When Lazarus died, no doubt his funeral was well-attended — many witnesses — leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was truly dead. 

So for him to be alive and fully healed — people could not wait to see him.

He was LIVING PROOF of the power of Jesus.

A walking, talking, breathing testimony that Jesus Christ is who He claims to be — the Son of God, the Messiah. 

Those who saw Lazarus turned to Jesus.

Can you imagine?

Lazarus was four days fresh when Jesus brought him back to life.

His testimony was so bold that the chief priest couldn’t keep people from running to Jesus, so he sought to kill him/them.

Lazarus did nothing but receive the power of God in his life, and now he was a target. 

When God changes us and His work is evident in us,

the power of that testimony scares the enemies of the Gospel.

They can’t rival big works and good conditions, so they bring chaos to confuse the onlookers. 

Yes, this is a tactic of Satan. 

But, sometimes, this tactic manifests through our closest relationships: friends, co-workers, family, neighbors, teachers, church family, religious leaders who claim to know the truth but are threatened by it when it doesn’t match the way they want to live their life. 

People don’t like it when they’re exposed in their sinful deeds. 

WE don’t like it when we’re exposed in our sinful deeds.

More accurately, I don’t like it when I’m exposed in my sinful deeds.  

Conflict will happen.

But, conflict will only mask your faith story if you let it. 

Cling to Christ.

He proves Himself repeatedly to be worthy of our faith, our praise, our trust, and our all.

^“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37-39

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Susan E. Greenwood is a wife, a mother, and a mother-in-law :D. She has over 28 years experience in youth and children’s ministries. Susan loves to write blogs, articles, devotionals, and curriculum. She has blogged for bible.org, and authors Mary Demuth, Lynn Cowell and Ruth Schwenk. Susan writes regularly for skitguys.com. Her passion is to help people live their Life In Stride with the Word of God.