We continue our study of the Gospel of John. Picking up at verse 6 of chapter 11. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle writes:
“So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days, and then He said to His disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’ But Rabbi,’ they said, ‘a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone You, and yet You are going back?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the day time will not stumble, for they see by the world’s light. It is when a person walks at night is when they stumble, for they have no light.’ After He had said this He went on to tell them, ‘Our Friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.’ His disciples replied, ‘Lord if he sleeps he will get better.’ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but His disciples thought He meant natural sleep. So then He told them plainly. ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there so that you might believe. But let us go to him.’ Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.'” John 11: 6-16
His disciples tried to talk Him out of going back to Judea, because they knew He may be killed this time. His reply was about walking in the day time where there is light. But it was not the light of the world He spoke of; it was the light of knowing what they would see. Every time He showed them a miracle, it was to help them grow in their faith. The miracle of the feeding of thousands with two small fish, and five small barley loaves, of walking on water to them in a storm and calming it with a word, the restoring of a withered hand, and of giving sight to a man born blind, and all of the other things He was doing was to prepare them and grow their faith for the time it would fall to them to tell the Good News.
“Jesus is Lord over all. Salvation from death is in Him.” He said, “I am glad I was not there so that you might believe.” He was working on building their faith.
The disciple who rallied the Team to go with Jesus was the same Thomas who was the doubter that had to be shown by “the nail marks in His hands, and by putting his hand into His side”, that Jesus had risen from the dead after His resurrection. But, on this day, in the presence of Jesus, Thomas was inspired to go face the enemy, and die with Him if necessary.
Jesus is the Word. The Word is ‘alive and active’, and speaks to us as we go to it each day. It is where we receive our inspiration to go with Him wherever that may be. To realize that He is the light of the world, that eternal life is in Him, and that miracles are common in His presence. This is where He builds our faith. Let us go to Him.