Devotional - John 11:7-16 - A Traveler Travels

Passage To Study:

John 11:7-16

[7] Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” [8] The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” [9] 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. [10] “But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” [11] These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” [12] Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” [13] However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. [14] Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. [15] “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” [16] Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

What are the facts of the passage?:

(Verse 7) - Jesus tells the disciples they will go to Judea.
(Verse 8) - The disciples remind the Lord that the Jews in Judea had only recently tried to kill Him.
(Verse 9-10) - Jesus replies that one walks in the day when they can see and not in the night when they cannot see and would stumble.
(Verse 11) - He then tells them that His friend Lazarus is sleeping and that He will go wake him.
(Verse 12-13) - The disciples protest that sleep would be good for him if he is sick because they thought Jesus was talking about really sleeping.
(Verse 14) - Jesus tells them plainly that Lazarus is dead.
(Verse 15) - He further tells them that He was glad for their sakes that He wasn't there: that they may believe.
(Verse 16) - Thomas tells the rest of the disciples that that they should all go and die with Him.

What do those facts mean?:

(Verse 9-10) - ''12 hours" - The Jews divided the day from sunrise to sunset into 12 equal portions of 1 hour each.

''If any man walk" - Apart from riding a beast (which was the province of the rich and powerful alone) walking was the only way of getting from place to place. The illustration here is from the common experience of the traveler. The conversation was about a trip to Judea and, as was His custom, the Lord took His illustration from the case before Him.

"Stumbleth not" - Because he travels during the day, he is able, having light, to make the journey safely. He can see the obstacles and dangers and can avoid them.

''The light of this world" obviously refers to the sun. However, we cannot help but be reminded that Jesus Himself is the Light of the world in that He, by His Word, gives the Light necessary to avoid the spiritual dangers and obstacles in our walk.

"In the night" - Because of the lack of light, the journey is perilous and unsafe. The point is that night is an inappropriate time to travel.

''No light in him" - He sees no light. Because it is night, his eyes admit no light. The meaning is figurative and likely points to the knowledge the light reveals that, in turn, allows him to avoid trouble.

Take as a whole, Jesus is saying that there is a definite and specific amount of time allotted to men, and to Him specifically. He has an allotted amount of time to live and do His Father's will. Though His life was nearly over, it had a portion left. As a traveler travels until dark, so Christ must go on and do the will of God while it is still the time to do so. God would defend and protect Him. He would not die until His appointed time came

How do those facts apply to my life?:

This passage teaches us to be diligent in the service of God until the end of life. We need not fear enemy nor obstacle. If God requires us to labor for Him (and He does) then He will protect us and sustain us in that work.

What should I do in response?:

We should renew our commitment to service and serve in light of this great truth!

Day

A Traveler Travels