We’ll continue the “I AM” series next Sunday with a message by Dr.
Andrew Schmutzer, professor of Biblical Studies at Moody Bible
Institute. He’ll be teaching about Jesus’ words in John 11:25-26, “I am
the Resurrection and the Life.” As we prepare our hearts for that
message, this week in our devotionals we will be reading and reflecting
on verses from John 11.
We thank Kellie Kammes, our Director of Women’s Ministry, for preparing this week’s devotional thoughts.
This week we are reading from John 11, focusing today on verses 39-45. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.
1A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany
with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2This is the Mary who later poured
the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.
Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3So the two sisters sent a message to
Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will
not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son
of God will receive glory from this.” 5So although Jesus loved Martha,
Mary, and Lazarus, 6he stayed where he was for the next two days.
7Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
8But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days
ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there
again?”
9Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day.
During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have
the light of this world. 10But at night there is danger of stumbling
because they have no light.” 11Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has
fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
12The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get
better!” 13They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but
Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
14So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15And for your
sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come,
let’s go see him.”
16Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too — and die with Jesus.”
Returning to Judea would put Jesus’ life in danger, and He knew it.
His disciples knew it too. So when Jesus said, “Let’s go,” the disciples
were aware of the situation He was asking them to face.
Their first reaction was to question Jesus’ decision, so they asked
Him, “Jesus, did you forget about the danger?” But Jesus assured them
that as long as He was doing God’s will, He would be walking in the
daylight — meaning He knew what He was doing — then He could go confidently because this was God’s plan for them all.
He wanted them to have the opportunity to experience what was going
to happen because it would be for their benefit — and their belief in
Him would grow.
The disciples were human, just like us. They made mistakes, said
foolish things, and lacked faith frequently, but on this occasion they
showed great faith in following Jesus where ever He was going — even if
it might mean they would die with Him.
I wonder what their trip back to Judea was like. Did they question
their decision to follow Jesus, or did they walk along silently, hoping
no one noticed how nervous they were? Did they take their cue from
watching Jesus move forward with confidence, knowing that He was walking
in the light of doing God’s will?
Has God ever asked you to follow Him into a place you didn’t want to
go, perhaps even a dangerous place? What was your response to Him? If He
asked you to follow Him there today, would you move ahead with
confidence — knowing that following Him is more important than “staying
safe”?
Father,
Sometimes I’m just like the disciples — afraid of following
where You’re going. Teach me to trust You more, knowing that when I’m
following you I will walk in the “light” and You will show me the way.
Use the opportunities that are ahead of me to teach me to believe in You
even more. I am willing to follow You there.
Amen