God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ
Yesterday we saw the difficulty, and now we will see the discussion. The disciples were concerned with Jesus’ safety.
John 11:7-8:
Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
In John 7:1 and as recently as John 10:31, the people are trying to kill him. They are saying, “Wait a minute. We do not want to go back there.”
John 11:9a:
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
Yes, there are. They varied in their culture from 49 minutes to 72 minutes, whether it was winter or summer. They had sundials, remember?
John 11:9b:
… If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
This is the figure erotesis. He is talking about walking by the Spirit; he is talking about being led by God’s power.
Proverbs 4:19:
The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.
That is not us; we walk with the light of the Word. We know what we walk on. This next part of the discussion proceeds to how Lazarus is sleeping.
John 11:11-12:
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
If he is sleeping, he is going to recover.
John 11:13-14:
Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
He could only know that by revelation. God told him. That is pretty harsh, but he explains in verse 15:
John 11:15-16a:
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. [Let’s go unto him; let’s go see Lazarus.] 16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go….
Let us go also, that Lazarus may live? Let us go also, that Jesus will be blessed? No!
John 11:16b:
… Let us also go, that we may die with him.
That is pretty negative, don’t you think? Pretty self-centered. Was he thinking about Lazarus? Was he thinking about Mary or Martha?
John 11:17:
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
How long did he wait? Two days. So, if he had left two days ago, would he have found Lazarus alive or dead? It did not make any difference, did it? It would have made no difference if he would have just run immediately. When he got there, Lazarus would have been dead anyhow. So, God told him to wait; and He told him to wait until he was dead for more than three days and three nights. And that was important for him, because he knew that he would be dead for three days and three nights. So, he was in the grave four days already.
Tomorrow we will see the dilemma as Jesus meets with Lazarus’ sisters.