Yes! This is leading up to John 16!
Every once in a while, I get to figuring I know what God is up to ! Then a new twist comes, and it’s bewildering, until I realize he spoke about following him even when it’s dark outside!!!
“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.””
John 11:9-10 NIV
Then Thomas gave a prophetic word soon thereafter!
“Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.””
“Prophetic words” put another way is, “proclaiming the truth” forth telling and sometimes its foretelling… in Thomas’s case, that day when they all walked back to witness Lazarus raised from the dead, they all lived – and later, as Thomas continued to walk by faith, he ended up in India… he was martyred! He died with Christ! So it was both/and…
in 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 you’ll see that too! Each of us, is not suffering alone! We have the comfort from our brothers and sisters in Christ! The Greek word (παρακλητος – para-clay-tos) used in these verses is translated “comfort” it means “to come alongside of”
Comfort isn’t merely “there there” (pat pat pat on the shoulders while hugging) the image in my mind is two vessels… one taking on water, floundering in the stormy waters, another vessel comes alongside, and supports while repairs are made, supplies are provided… and then both vessels can go and seek those God sends into their path.
“…who [comes alongside] of us in all our troubles, so that we can [come alongside of] those in any trouble with the [come alongsideness] we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. “
This word I’m setting before you in some ways seems so obvious to me right now! But it’s also just starting to dawn on me.
I pray God will make it obvious to us all. To flood our lives with HOPE in the midst of our storm. When one suffers, we all suffer!
…On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Read John 11 and see the verses in context. Let me know if you follow my logic here… in the context Jesus and his disciples left Judea:
His disciples reminded him of that fact,
“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” John 11:8
…and if we look back into chapter 10,
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
John 10:31-33;39
It seemed obvious to the disciples what Jesus was doing, and why. They thought he’d had a brush with death, and that they and he were on the run!
But then, in John 11, Jesus is called back, and he’s actually going to go back! They expressed their confusion! (verse 8) what brought him back? His LOVE! Loving God and loving others, is another BOTH/AND…
Jesus’ word then comes right after. For the longest time I didn’t really realize how that statement fit the situation. I hope I can convey what I eventually saw.
Question> Is this world’s ‘light’ replaceable with ‘human understanding’ ?
Jesus answered, “Are not human beings limited to their own understanding? Anyone who walks in perfectly understandable contexts, will not stumble, for they see by this world’s understanding. It is when a person walks in strange circumstances that they stumble, for they don’t have a clue what’s really going on.”
That is NOT an authorized paraphrase! You get to interact with this idea! You had better do so, always!
Look at the famous verse about faith:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Another scripture just came to mind here:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:5-6
We’re on a roll here! Don’t give up on me just yet! Take a look at this:
They knew all the time that there is a God, yet they refused to acknowledge him as such, or to thank him for what he is or does. Thus they became fatuous in their argumentations, and plunged their silly minds still further into the dark.
To ‘acknowledge him as God’ is the same as glorifying him, is the same as honouring him as God.
Are you following my logic here?
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 NIV
The disciples didn’t understand Jesus, but they did follow him, because they believed in him! Their belief gave them the power to become the children of God!
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— John 1:12
That “becoming” for them, and for us, is through walking according to faith, being obedient to his leading.
When we give up on God, we start complaining, and moaning and groaning against God! Go look up the Israelites for yourself in Exodus… you’ll find definite words about God being intentional about everything he did! He always gave Moses the reasons behind what he was going to do, and what Israel’s enemies would be doing, and how it all fit into his master plan!
Are you still with me?!?!
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:11
God’s in charge! God knows the beginning to the end! Greater is HE !
But WHERE IS HE!?! You cry!
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Is in you!
Now you’re ready to read John 16!
Lay down your life, quit struggling to stay alive! Instead you ought to…
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
We need God! Within us! In each of our hearts! And within US (see John 15) through us obediently loving one another!
One of my favourite scriptures begins with THEY:
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:11 NIV
Running Down Vimy 