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23 October 2007
John 11 v 7-16
Then Jesus said to his followers, "Let's go back to Judea."
The followers said, "But Teacher, the Jews there tried to stone you to death only a short time ago. Now you want to go back there?"
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the daylight, he will not stumble, because he can see by this world's light. But if anyone walks at night, he stumbles because there is no light to help him see."
After Jesus said this, he added, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him."
The followers said, "But Lord, if he is only asleep, he will be all right."
Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but his followers thought he meant Lazarus was really sleeping. So then Jesus said plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes I was not there so that you may believe. But let's go to him now."
Then Thomas (the one called Didymus) said to the other followers, "Let us also go so that we can die with him."
When Jesus said they were going to go to Judea, the disciples naturally showed fear over the safety, not just of Jesus, whom they loved, but also of themselves. In John 10:31 the Jews had tried to stone Jesus, and they had no great desire to put themselves in that position again. So when they thought that Lazarus was simply sleeping, they thought they had found a good excuse not to go. They loved Lazarus (Jesus called him 'our friend') and would have wanted him to be healed, but if the good work could be done without any danger to themselves, then so much the better. How often do we find seemingly legitimate excuses not to step out for God but to stay in the comfort zone?
But Jesus knew that it was not his time yet and he would not be harmed, while the disciples did not yet trust him enough to keep safe what was important. Jesus says that "if anyone walks in the daylight, he will not stumble, because he can see by this world's light." Jesus is the light of the world, and if we follow his ways and walk obediently to God, even if some of us may die, not even a hair on our head will perish (Luke 21:16-18).
And Jesus gives the main reason he was willing to risk danger - "that you may believe". And believing in him makes Jesus glad - the Greek word translated as glad means 'to rejoice' - do you know how happy you make Jesus when you believe him? When you choose to put your trust in him, to believe his word and even the smallest of his promises, you make Jesus rejoice.
Pray for our Father's help for your community and church to believe his word, to fearlessly walk according to his light, and to know the joy you bring Jesus when you trust in him.
Written by Dan Cooper
John 11 v 7-16
Then Jesus said to his followers, "Let's go back to Judea."
The followers said, "But Teacher, the Jews there tried to stone you to death only a short time ago. Now you want to go back there?"
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the daylight, he will not stumble, because he can see by this world's light. But if anyone walks at night, he stumbles because there is no light to help him see."
After Jesus said this, he added, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him."
The followers said, "But Lord, if he is only asleep, he will be all right."
Jesus meant that Lazarus was dead, but his followers thought he meant Lazarus was really sleeping. So then Jesus said plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes I was not there so that you may believe. But let's go to him now."
Then Thomas (the one called Didymus) said to the other followers, "Let us also go so that we can die with him."
When Jesus said they were going to go to Judea, the disciples naturally showed fear over the safety, not just of Jesus, whom they loved, but also of themselves. In John 10:31 the Jews had tried to stone Jesus, and they had no great desire to put themselves in that position again. So when they thought that Lazarus was simply sleeping, they thought they had found a good excuse not to go. They loved Lazarus (Jesus called him 'our friend') and would have wanted him to be healed, but if the good work could be done without any danger to themselves, then so much the better. How often do we find seemingly legitimate excuses not to step out for God but to stay in the comfort zone?
But Jesus knew that it was not his time yet and he would not be harmed, while the disciples did not yet trust him enough to keep safe what was important. Jesus says that "if anyone walks in the daylight, he will not stumble, because he can see by this world's light." Jesus is the light of the world, and if we follow his ways and walk obediently to God, even if some of us may die, not even a hair on our head will perish (Luke 21:16-18).
And Jesus gives the main reason he was willing to risk danger - "that you may believe". And believing in him makes Jesus glad - the Greek word translated as glad means 'to rejoice' - do you know how happy you make Jesus when you believe him? When you choose to put your trust in him, to believe his word and even the smallest of his promises, you make Jesus rejoice.
Pray for our Father's help for your community and church to believe his word, to fearlessly walk according to his light, and to know the joy you bring Jesus when you trust in him.
Written by Dan Cooper
