So, where was Jesus?

Where was Jesus? Once again we ask the question; once again, no easy answers. It seems that, in this last year, we have been pushed to this place too many times. There will never be an answer to “why?” that will relieve us from throwing ourselves at Jesus feet in faith.

Jesus is present, though, if we are to take him at his word. He is present in his people who are responding to this tragedy with his love and compassion. It seems that in the greatest times of potential doubt, God’s people respond in his stead, with his care, as his voice, hands and feet. May it be true of all of us. We don’t have to understand the “why” question to act as God would want us to.

This morning my mind went to a biblical story that helped me. It is the story from Daniel about the response of three young men from Judah to tragedy and the threat of death. This is the story of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah…who we know better by their Babylonian names, Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego. These three, along with others including Daniel, were taken captive from the southern kingdom of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar. I am sure from reading the accounts of Jeremiah and other prophets that the experience was horrific, not unlike what occurred on Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary. Though God had warned this people of the impending disaster I am sure they, too, were asking where God was and why he had abandoned them. Not all of his people were rebellious but they were punished right along with those who were.

Fast forward to Nebuchadnezzar’s idea of a gold statue of himself to which all people in the kingdom would bow. Shad, Shack and Abe decided to respectfully refuse to bow. This is what they said to the king in Dan. 3:17-18 (NIV). “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us^[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. ¹⁸ But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

“But even if he does not…” Those three knew that there was a chance that God would not save them. That was his decision; but, whether he chose to save or not, they wanted the king to know that they would still obey their God instead of him. So, Nebuchadnezzar heats up the furnace and throws them in. To everyone’s surprise, a fourth was with them in the flames. We don’t know who the fourth was, exactly. The king calls the extra being an angel. Maybe it was the pre-incarnate Jesus himself.

Herein lays the comfort for me. God does not always save; but, in this story we see that he is present with his people in the hottest of fires. Jesus put it this way, recorded in John 16:33 (Jeff’s paraphrase), “I have told you these things so that you will have peace because, while you are in this world, you will have troubling times; but, take courage because I have the victory over the world.” Not much later, as he is leaving them, he tells them that he will always be with them (Matt 28:20).

Lord, have mercy on me and help me to trust you even when I don't have a clue of what you are doing. Help me to understand that, for some things, the answers lie only in you and that is okay.