John 11:5-10

⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

⁶ So as he heard that he was sick, he stayed in the place where he was two days.

⁷ Then after that, he said to the disciples, “Let’s go into Judea again.”

⁸ “Rabbi,” the disciples told him, “just now the Jews tried to stone you, and you’re departing for there again?”

⁹ Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours in a day? If someone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

¹⁰ But if anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not with him.”

the light of this world

It didn’t make sense for the disciples. They had just left Judea because a mob had just been ready to put him to death by stoning. Now, Jesus wants to go back (presumably) to be with a sick friend.

We know now that there was more to the story. That sick friend had already died, and Jesus wanted to return not just to comfort him in his illness, but to raise him from the tomb.

What did Jesus mean by his reference to walking during the day? He had already explained that he, himself, is the light (John 8:12). If the disciples follow him, they need not fear, because he knows what to do and where to do it.

We are always safest in the center of God’s will in Christ. If he tells us to go somewhere and do something, we can be assured he has a plan for his gospel to prevail there through our obedience.

Lord, thank you for being the light of this world.