John 11:5-10 5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6Therefore, when he heard that he was ill, he then stayed two days in the place where he was. 7Then after this, he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just recently seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9Jesus 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. 10But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him.”
The story of Lazarus’ illness and eventual death reveals a lot about Jesus. The first thing to note was his love for this family. The word for loved (ēgapa) is different than in verse 3. This word is the one typically used for God’s gracious and unconditional love for humanity (3:16). Jesus modeled that love to this family. Martha is named and given first while Mary is not named at all. Martha has a prominent role later in the story and may have been the one especially affected by the illness and death of Lazarus. In Luke 10:38-42, Martha took the role of the hostess and showed great care in preparing a meal for Jesus. She may have had the gift of service, and so it would be a natural conclusion that she cared for her sick brother. Those who care for the sick often develop and extra close bond, and so are significantly affected by this death.
The story takes a turn with verse 6 when Jesus did not go immediately to help Lazarus. At first, it might seem that his close relationship with the family and his love for them counted for nothing if he did not go immediately to heal Lazarus. He could have even said a word from a distance and Lazarus would have been healed. Everything Jesus did was on purpose. His delay had a purpose that only appears later in the story. The time frame for all the events is not clear. It took time for word to reach Jesus, perhaps a day or two. It would also take time for him to go to Bethany. He knew the condition of Lazarus, which becomes clear in verse 11. It is likely that by the time word had reached Jesus, Lazarus had already died because when Jesus reached Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days (verse 17). Jesus’ delay increased the significance of the miracle that would soon take place.
When Jesus told the disciples it was time to go to Judea, they did not take it well because they had seen the animosity and threats the Jewish leaders gave to Jesus. The reference to recent efforts of the Jews to stone Jesus connects this chapter to the previous events in Jerusalem. The disciples must have thought it was a good idea to be as far away from the temple and Jesus’ accusers as possible. Why go back to the lion’s den when it was safer in the Transjordan, and people were more receptive to Jesus there?
Jesus responded in the form of a riddle. The Romans and Jews divided the day into twelve hours. Without lamps, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to work at night. Night was resting safely indoors. Without any type of lighting, it would be easy to stumble and fall. Jesus uses a phrase that recalls 8:12: he is the light of this world. Those who walk by him will not stumble but be able to work and carry out their plans. Without his light, people will stumble and fall. It was time for Jesus to face his suffering and death. He walked in the light of the Father, and he wanted his disciples to follow in the same path of obedience. The Jews in Jerusalem refused to accept his light, resulting in their stumbling and falling. Jesus had made a decision and would set out towards what lay ahead. Those who follow him can walk with the same confidence and obedience.
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