Read John 11:4-9. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
Digging Deeper
Have you ever stumbled or walked into the door or wall trying to find the light switch? I have many times bumping into things or stubbing my toe trying to get to the lamp to turn it on. Sometimes when I walk my dog before the sun comes up, I don’t even know what I am stepping on or in!
Jesus says that Lazarus’ sickness was for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. The disciples knew that if Jesus was to return to the Bethany, the Jews would hear about it and attempt to arrest or kill him. Jesus states that a person who walks in the daylight does not stumble, but the person who walks in the darkness stumbles.
How does this all relate together? Jesus is declaring that if a person walks in God’s will or God’s light as a person walks in the sun light, (s)he has no fear of stumbling at all. That person is in the center of God’s will. This does not mean that everything will be fun and easy. Even for Jesus there is danger and death ahead of Him in doing the will of the Father.
The NIV interprets this little phrase that we can easily miss at the end of verse 10b, “for they have no light.” One may interpret that as referring to the natural sunlight having set and so he has no light. Therefore, he stumbles along as he walks in the night.
In the Greek text, it states “because the light is not IN him.” As I thought about this, Jesus is not referring to physical light for the sunlight can’t be with him day and night nor is it in that person. Is it possible that Jesus is referring to a different kind of light, the “light” that is within us because we have come to the light? We are guided by the “light” of the Holy Spirit, not by the light of this world.
Jesus is not guided by the “light” of this world. The events of this world do not dictate His actions, but the “light” or understanding of the will of God guides Him whether it is day or night.
Are you fearful of what lies ahead? Do we want to “play” it safe with our faith, to avoid sharing our faith? Or are we following in faith, what we believe God is calling us to do for Him? Are we walking by the “light” of the world or we walking by the “light” of His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Whose “light” are you walking in today?
-Kingston