JOHN 11:7-16 THE PURPOSE OF GLORY

7 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”
9 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. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.” 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

The Good Shepherd knows the sheep and the environment, so he will guide the sheep safely and provide them with the food they need. In this passage we can hear the echo of David’s famous psalm about his shepherd. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.” As Jesus goes to confront death, Lazarus’ and later his own, the disciples need not fear because the Light is with them. What they cannot know is that Jesus is training them so that when he dies (the night comes) they will be able to walk and not stumble because he has led the way.

He is not only their protector but their provider. The nourishment they need for their life journey in faith is Jesus, the Bread of Life. We are given insight into the purpose of Jesus when he glorifies God in this world through his statement, “so that you may believe.” The revelation of God to man is not for God’s sake, as if he had a need to be acknowledged and loved by men. The revelation is for man’s sake because we are alienated from God, who is the source of our life. God graciously and sacrificially reveals himself to us so that we might see, believe and return to him for our own good.

Thomas did not know how true and necessary his words were and are. If we are to be reconciled to God, we must follow Jesus and die to self. The advantage we have over Thomas is that we know that there is a third element in the proclamation. If we follow and die with Jesus we will also be raised with him to eternal life. That is our journey and the Word is our Shepherd and our food.

Thank you Jesus, that you are willing to reveal God to me and bring me back to the Father at such a high cost. Help me to grow in my faith and trust so that like Thomas, even when my worldly logic shouts out the folly of obeying you I will still choose to follow where you lead me. Amen.