John 11:7-10 (NIV)
Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”
Jesus already knew what God’s plan was with Lazarus, that He would raise him from the dead long after the situation had been written off as hopeless. So, the two-day wait was all part of the plan. As soon as those waiting days were over, Jesus received the call of the Father to make the two-day journey back to Bethany.
When Jesus first called His followers to get ready to go, they pushed back. Jesus’ conflicts with the religious leaders had grown increasingly dangerous. The last two had resulted in Jesus having to leave the temple area to escape being stoned to death! It had only been a few weeks since the last run-in, not nearly enough time for tempers to have cooled. So, they reminded Jesus that it wouldn’t be safe for Him to return.
The main point in Jesus’ reply was that He was not blindly deciding to go back into the danger zone, but instead had been intentionally directed to go by the Father. He was not walking back in the dark, but was walking in the light, intentionally working, doing what God had called Him to do every day. Jesus could rest in the assurance that His Father would not let Him be harmed or fall into the hands of His enemies until it was time. And it wasn’t time yet.
Jesus’ answer was not just for Him at that moment, but was a valuable insight for His disciples for the future. After Pentecost, when the work of the kingdom would be placed in their hands, all of them would have to move forward every day trusting that God was guiding them right where He wanted them to be, and that He would not let them be harmed or killed until He decided that it was time. And even then He would be with them through that experience, all the way to the end.
Father, I have experienced Your guidance and protection, even in the most unlikely of places, and through some of the darkest moments of my life. But even though the circumstances were dark, I was still able to walk in the light as You came near to guide my steps, and to empower me to move forward until I could reach the other side. Thank You for this great promise to all of Your people, and for its fulfillment right when we need it the most. Amen.