Walk in the Day – John 11:1-16

Jesus’ disciples believed that sleep was a sign of healing, and so was good for their friend Lazarus. They couldn’t be more right. According to Healthline.com some of the benefits of deep sleep include: energy restoration, cell regeneration, increasing blood supply to muscles, promoting growth and repair of tissues and bones, and strengthening the immune system. But that isn’t the kind of sleep Lazarus was experiencing.

Now there was a certain man from Bethany, from the village of Mary and Martha, Lazarus, their brother. This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with myrrh and wiped his feet with her own hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent to Jesus saying, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not fatal but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified through it.”

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard he was sick, he nevertheless remained where he was for two days. Then, after this, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go again to Judea.” His disciples said, “Rabbi, the Jews are right now seeking to stone you, and you want to go there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks in the day he will not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if someone walks in the night, he will stumble, because there is no light in him.”

He said this and then after this told them, “Lazarus, our beloved, is sleeping. But I am going to wake him up.” The disciples responded, “Lord, if he is sleeping he will be restored to health.” But Jesus was speaking of his death, and they thought he was talking about physical sleep. So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. And I am rejoicing for your sake that that I was not there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.” Then Thomas, the one called the Twin by his fellow disciples, said, “Let’s go so that we can die with him.” (John 11:1-16 ESV)

I’ve been told often of someone’s illness or hospitalization and the expectation was that I would go visit them and certainly pray for them.  This is the expectation Lazarus’ sisters have of Jesus when they send word to him of their brother’s illness.  But Jesus has inside knowledge from the Spirit that though Lazarus is going to die it will not be permanent, hence, that the illness will not lead to death.  In fact, it is Jesus’ love for Martha, Mary and Lazarus that leads him to stay two more days before going, so that Lazarus will die and he will be able to do a mighty miracle that will be more strengthening to them than if he went and healed Lazarus.  

There is danger in going back to Jerusalem, and Bethany is very close to Jerusalem. The disciples initially are incredulous and anxious about Jesus returning to this lion’s den. But Jesus has a confidence that God has a plan for him and that is the daylight he can walk in, with complete safety. This is not bravado, like Thomas’ response, but a resting assurance that God determines your destiny.

Isn’t it strange that God often delays responding to our prayers for one kind of deliverance so that He may give us another kind, a better kind?  How could the toddler understand his parent refusing to answer his request to take him away from the hypodermic needle of inoculation in order to make him invulnerable to a particular disease forever?  How does a parent understand God’s delay in rescuing their grown child from addiction in order that the child might learn how to fight the addiction and show others the way?  We must not presume to know better than God how to order our lives.  He is way smarter about these things than we are.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think you sleep well or poorly?
2. What do you make of the faith of Mary and Martha?
3. What do you make of the faith of Jesus’ disciples?
4. What took precedence, in Jesus’ mind, over Lazarus’ healing?
5. How do you describe the difference between Thomas’ bravado and Jesus’ confidence?
6. How have you wrestled with God’s delay at answering your prayers?