The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 11:8-9,
"'But Rabbi,' they said, 'a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?' Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world's light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.'"
When it came time in Jesus' ministry to raise Lazarus from the dead, he told his disciples they were going back to Judea where the leaders of the Jews were looking to kill him. His disciples protested as quoted above. Jesus responded to them with an interesting comment about daylight.
The Quest Study Bible has an interesting note about this. It says Jesus was calming their fears by pointing out that just as the day has fixed periods in it (daylight and night) so the time of Jesus' earthly ministry was preordained. All aspects of what he set himself to accomplish had their appointed times, just as walking is done in the daytime, not the nighttime (excuse me for pointing out this was before the invention of streetlights and flashlights).
John makes some interesting observations about Jesus' time on earth as a mission that was driven by exacting strategy and timing. For instance we read in John 7:6, "Therefore Jesus told them, 'My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.'" Two verses later we read, "You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come."
As I say, there are a number of clues in John's gospel that point to this precision of strategy and timing. "I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me." John 7:33.
"'But Rabbi,' they said, 'a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?' Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world's light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.'"
When it came time in Jesus' ministry to raise Lazarus from the dead, he told his disciples they were going back to Judea where the leaders of the Jews were looking to kill him. His disciples protested as quoted above. Jesus responded to them with an interesting comment about daylight.
The Quest Study Bible has an interesting note about this. It says Jesus was calming their fears by pointing out that just as the day has fixed periods in it (daylight and night) so the time of Jesus' earthly ministry was preordained. All aspects of what he set himself to accomplish had their appointed times, just as walking is done in the daytime, not the nighttime (excuse me for pointing out this was before the invention of streetlights and flashlights).
John makes some interesting observations about Jesus' time on earth as a mission that was driven by exacting strategy and timing. For instance we read in John 7:6, "Therefore Jesus told them, 'My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.'" Two verses later we read, "You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come."
As I say, there are a number of clues in John's gospel that point to this precision of strategy and timing. "I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me." John 7:33.
The next time you read John's gospel, note these clues to this strategy and timing. How many can you find? It appears there was nothing during Jesus' earthly ministry that was simply happenstance.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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