Lazarus is Dead, Part 1
A Man who Walks by Day Will not
Stumble
The following Scriptural Nugget is the first
in a mini-series based on John 11.
"Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours
of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees
by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he
stumbles, for he has no light.'" (John 11:9-10).
The setting is somewhere in Galilee. Jesus
has been told that His dear friend Lazarus is terribly sick, and
though He doesn't seem terribly worried at first, two days
later He decides it is time to go to Judea, to Bethany, to see
Lazarus. But He is met by opposition. His disciples are afraid.
They chose this moment to gently
remind Jesus that His
life may be in danger if He returns to Judea: "Rabbi . . . a
short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going
back there?" (John 11:8)
Jesus' response to their concern is very
interesting: "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who
walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's
light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has
no light." (John 11:9,10)
To the bystander, Jesus' response would
seem totally out of context! The disciples are concerned
about being killed, and Jesus calmly says there are 12 hours of
daylight, and it is only when they walk outside of those hours of
daylight -- when they walk at night -- that they will stumble!
What possible connection can there be between the disciples' very
valid concerns and Jesus' strange answer?
Do you remember what Jesus said about
"light" somewhat earlier in His ministry? Let's take a look:
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never
walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus says He
is the light of the world, and anyone
who followed Him will never walk
in darkness! Jesus' comment about light was simply providing a loving
reminder to His fearful followers that they didn't need to be
afraid of what the people of Judea might do to them! They didn't
need to worry about walking in the "Valley of the Shadow of Death", for
He -- Jesus -- the Light --
was with them!
I have good news for you, my friends! We,
too, need not fear the darkness! We don't need to fear what man
can do to us. Why? Because the Light of the world
resides within us! As long as Jesus is within, we, too,
walk in the Light. We do not walk in darkness
(John 8:12), and as a result, we will not stumble
(John 11:10)!
So what do we do with fear? We strike it
down with the Truth of the Word of God! We remind ourselves, just
as Jesus so lovingly reminded His disciples, that we do not
walk in darkness, because the Light of the World
is with us! We put our faith and trust in God's word!
And we go ahead with what we have been commissioned to do! Praise
God, we do not walk in darkness!
Please see the Sunday edition of The
Illustrator for part 2.