John 11:9, commentary and pictures

Jesus spoke the words as He resolved after two days to return to Judea to Lazarus though the disciples warned of danger from those who had sought to stone Him, knowing Lazarus was dead and going purposefully to raise him so many would believe. The twelve hours of daylight picture the appointed time for His work, and while He walked in the light of His Father's will He was safe and no danger could hinder Him before His work was finished. To walk in the day is to follow the path God marks out where His Spirit and Word show duty and keep a person from stumbling, while to walk in the night is to choose a path He has not appointed where there is no guiding light and there is no security. The daylight hours are also the working day given to every person, sufficient when used well to pursue eternal life and help save others, for which all are accountable to God and must not waste it on selfish pleasure or sin. That example calls workers to labor diligently with mind and heart, to do their very best and persevere faithfully even to the close of day as children of light laying aside sin and growing while helping others toward the heavenly reward.

Setting Before Lazarus Raising

Jesus answered with these words after waiting two days before deciding to go again into Judea to Lazarus. The sisters had sent only the confiding message that he whom He loved was sick, expecting Him to come at once to Bethany to heal him. While they prayed and watched they clung to His word that the sickness was not unto death, then mourned when Lazarus died before He arrived, though He knew what was happening and could have stopped death.

At the end of the two days He resolved to go to Lazarus though the disciples warned that the Jews in Judea had lately sought to stone Him. He went knowing Lazarus was dead, acting purposefully under divine wisdom amid danger from the Pharisees, and raised him so many would believe. He said He was going to awake His friend Lazarus out of sleep, meaning Lazarus was dead. The disciples mistook it for rest in sleep, so He told them plainly Lazarus is dead and He was glad He was not there, so that they would believe, yet they should still go to him.

The delay was deliberate and not from lack of love for the stricken family. Because in His immediate presence disease was always rebuked and He could not witness suffering or death without combatting Satan's power to bring relief, Lazarus was permitted to die so that through his resurrection the last and crowning evidence might be given that Jesus is the Son of God and Saviour of the world. That waiting was meant to turn the death into undoubted proof of His divine power, to join His disciples to Him in a faith that could not be broken when some questioned if He was really the Christ because He had not saved Lazarus whom He loved, and to work a miracle to convince all who could be convinced. That rescue cost Christ the ransom on the cross of Calvary with greater pain mingled with mockery, the greatest humiliation, tasting death for every man, every rescue bringing Him deepest humiliation. Though strong to save the whole world He wept at the grave at the thought that He could not save everyone Satan had laid low, having given Himself a ransom for many, even all who would return to loyalty to God.

The raising showed Christ's power to restore the dead and bring joy to those who mourned. Lazarus, the dead brother of Mary and Martha, was called out of the tomb after he had been dead four days, returning to mortal life still subject to death. At His return Christ's voice will call the dead in Christ to immortal life to be with the Lord forever. The act demonstrated His character as Saviour and Lifegiver and was part of His fulfillment of His mission.

The raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-44 was Christ's crowning miracle and decisive testimony to His divine power. Lazarus became a living witness that Christ was the Son of God, though he had no experience of the time he was dead. The miracle powerfully affected minds and drew a large enthusiastic multitude to Jesus. It was compelling evidence of Messiahship to Nicodemus, who had watched His life and teachings. Despite works of healing, deliverance, and raising the dead, prejudice and hatred blinded people to Jesus as the light and led them to reject Him.

Meaning of Day and Light

The twelve hours of daylight are the appointed span for Christ's work, the remaining period of His mission still left to Him. While He walks in the light of His Father's will He does not stumble, but is safe in doing that will, and no danger can hinder Him before His work is finished. To walk in the day is to follow God's appointed path, where the light of His Spirit shows the duty and keeps the walker from stumbling and secure. To walk in the night is to choose a path God has not marked out, where there is no guiding light and the walker is not secure.

Walking in the light keeps a person from stumbling because the light makes the way visible, while walking without light leads to stumbling. Walking in the light means obeying what is right, and it is the way of safety even when obedience is hard on self and requires crucifying self. Failure to walk in the light leads to serious mistakes and to a weak, sickly, stunted religion. Earnest effort prompted by love for others strengthens the heart and develops Christian character.

The light is divine illumination and God's holy Word, in which all who are disciples of Christ shall walk, urged by testimony, appeals, and warnings to do so. As people move nearer to heaven's light they receive greater illumination to meet new duties and difficulties. The just so progress in strength and grace and glory.

Call to Faithful Work

The twelve hours are the working day, the set time for purposeful labor before night comes and brings it to an end. Applied to human life, the time God gives is sufficient, when used well, to pursue eternal life and to help save others through example and teaching. People are accountable to God for how they use that time, and are not to waste it on selfish pleasure or sin but to keep eternity in view and form characters fit for immortal life.

Christ's reference to the twelve hours, with His own example, calls workers to use that time diligently, to do their very best, and to carry their work forward. Those engaged in building and other work for God are to give mind and heart to it willingly and wholeheartedly, without measuring their service narrowly or limiting it to an eight-hour day.

Even at the close of the day a true worker must keep working faithfully as a child of light. The question about the twelve hours prompts workers to use their remaining time and God-given abilities in His service and to persevere in the race toward the heavenly reward and promised crown while looking to Christ. Walking in the day is walking in the light by making an earnest, deliberate effort to represent Christ, laying aside sin and every hindrance, putting away gloom, and continuing in spiritual growth and life while helping others.