You’ve heard before, right? Of course you have. We all have. As a matter of fact, not only have we heard it, we have probably said it, or at least thought it, many times. It seems to be such a reasonable, rational question, doesn’t it? We look around the world, and we see the realities of violence, of disease, of famine, of graphic displays of bad things happening to good people in so many different ways. How are we to understand this? Is there an explanation for this haunting question? Can anyone offer an answer to this perplexity?

Well, my attempt at giving an answer would be to rephrase the question. I believe that asking why bad things happen to good people is asking the wrong question. The question should actually be: why do good things happen to bad people? I realize there are probably those reading this that would scream in disagreement with this rephrasing. And they would begin to offer their reasons for their extreme disagreement.

One example will suffice. Those who identify themselves as Christians would cite such examples as the barbarism of the adherents of radical Islam against those who they describe as infidels, which is an all-inclusive term identifying anyone who disagrees with the teachings of the Islamic religion. Just this past Sunday, as Christians were worshiping in Cairo, Egypt, they were savagely attacked by terrorists, with dozens killed and many more wounded. This is only one of many examples of bad things happening to good people, right? Well, actually, that’s wrong.

Let me begin my answer to this perplexing question by talking about the word, ‘good’. Like so many other words in our vocabulary, this word is an extremely relative term. I might go to a pulmonologist because I am experiencing breathing problems. X-rays might reveal that I have several dark spots in my lungs. Instantly, without the doctor having to say anything, I think cancer. My mind begins to run wild with all the horrific images I have seen of those who are fighting this terrible disease. However, upon further testing, I find that it is not cancer, but rather it is pneumonia. Wow! What wonderfully good news! But is it really? Well, yes, it is. In comparison, the news that I have pneumonia rather than cancer is very good news. Now, no, it is not good that I have pneumonia, but in comparison with cancer, it is, indeed good news.

I realize that’s probably not a convincing argument for many. So let me get right to the heart of my reasoning. Again, I suggest that ‘good’ is a relative term. I, personally, can look around and find persons with whom I can compare myself, and I can reach the conclusion that compared to them, I am pretty good. In my reasoning I might even think that I deserve better than them, because I am better than them. However, I can also quickly find multitudes that are better than me. So, in comparison, I am bad.

For Christians, with whom I identify myself, the source to which we turn for our understanding of all things, is the Bible. So, when we turn to this Book for an answer to this matter of goodness, and why bad things happen to good people, we find the solution to the confusion. Allow me to share a couple of quotes from God’s Word.

The Psalmist says, “There is none who does good. No, not one.” (Ps. 53:3) The Apostle Paul then quotes this same verse in Romans 3:12. And the definitive Biblical statement on the matter comes directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18) These statements seem to be crystal clear: no one is good: no one! I might deem myself to be good in comparison to others, but in comparison to God, who could ever claim true goodness for himself? The answer is obvious: no one, not even one.

To see the only true picture of goodness, look to Jesus Christ. He is the perfect embodiment of pure goodness. And yet, he suffered horrific savagery. Did He deserve it? Absolutely not! And yet, this Person experienced the ultimate ‘bad’. Consider His followers, the original apostles. According to church history and church tradition, each of these men suffered extremely, most of them even executed for their ‘good’ behavior.

This coming Sunday we will celebrate the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. But before the resurrection, He had to suffer the horror of crucifixion. The absolute ultimate example of bad things happening to a good Person. And to make sure that His followers would not be caught off guard by the bad things that were going to happen to them, He had taught His followers that they, too,  would have trouble in this life.

Therefore, He told His followers to expect bad things to happen to them. He promised that we would suffer. And our ultimate goal in life as Jesus followers is to allow Him to bring anything into our personal human experience that would result in His glory, knowing that the real glory for the true believer will not be experienced in this life, but in the life to come. So, take Jesus at His word: Yes, in this life we will suffer – bad things will happen to God’s people – but be of good courage, Jesus has overcome the world.

Let’s let the message of Easter remind us of how the very best has come to us as a result of the very worst happening to Jesus. And let’s gather in His house this Sunday, and every Sunday, to celebrate this most amazing event in all of human history.