I Go to Awaken Him

Lesson #176

After being told that Lazarus was sick, Jesus waits for two days to allow him to die. “Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”” (John 11:7 ESV). After waiting for two days I think the disciples were kind of surprised that he was going now, especially since it was not safe for Jesus to go to Judea now. “The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”” (John 11:8 ESV). Think about how you would feel if you were a disciple and knew that Jesus was going to return to an area of danger. Is your concern for Jesus or for yourself? If they were to stone Jesus, what might they do to you? What thoughts might you have about why Jesus was going back? Was it to grieve with the family, to encourage them, or maybe raise Lazarus from the dead? How does Jesus answer them?

“Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”” (John 11:9-10 ESV). Jesus begins his answer with a physical example of working during the twelve hours of daylight. At night when it is dark you would not be able to see and would stumble around. But the wording Jesus uses implies something deeper; it suggests a spiritual dimension. Since Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), then to walk in the day means to walk in the light that Jesus provides; to walk in fellowship with him, believing in and obeying his words. In contrast, to walk in the night means you not walking with Jesus in his light; you are not in fellowship with him and you do not believe in or obey his words. To walk in darkness apart from him means there is no light or spiritual life within. But there is still another level to the response Jesus gives to his disciples. As long as Jesus is on earth, it is day for him and he has work to do. At this time the work Jesus has to do in located in Judea. As Jesus continues to work he gets closer and closer to the final work he has been assigned to do on the cross.

“After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”” (John 11:11 ESV). Again a dual meaning is conveyed in this response. The disciples hear physical sleep and wonder why Jesus is going for the purpose of wakening Lazarus from needed restful sleep, but Jesus knows Lazarus is dead and he is going for the purpose of raising a dead stinking body to life. As you can imagine, the disciples and Jesus are on two entirely different pages at this point. This is clear from the next two verses: “The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.”” (John 11:12-13 ESV).

We will finish this conversation in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, the multilevel found in these verses point out a rather unique aspect of the Bible. We have looked at many verses in which there is a physical aspect, that often doesn’t make any sense to an unbeliever, but when studies by one spiritual alive it takes on meaning. To an unbeliever, the Bible is not much more than a history book containing stories and poems, but to the believer it is indeed a living book. Father, as I study for these lessons, the life I encounter nourishes my soul and draws me closer to your heart.