Why did the disciples question Jesus' return to Judea in John 11:8? Setting the Scene • In John 10 Jesus had openly declared, “I and the Father are one” (10:30). • The result: “Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him” (10:31). • Jesus withdrew across the Jordan (10:40), but news soon arrived that His friend Lazarus was gravely ill in Bethany—just two miles from Jerusalem, the very heart of Judean opposition. John 11:8—The Disciples’ Protest “Rabbi,” the disciples told Him, “just now the Jews tried to stone You, and are You going back there?” (11:8) Their question sprang from three intertwined realities: 1. Recent, specific danger. – Stoning attempts in John 8:59 and 10:31–39 were fresh memories. 2. Escalating hostility from religious leaders. – Judea was the headquarters of those plotting to seize and kill Jesus (John 7:1; 10:39). 3. Personal risk. – Association with Jesus meant the disciples could be targeted as well (cf. John 15:20). A Deadly Climate in Judea • Religious leaders felt their influence threatened (John 11:48). • The Sanhedrin had already authorized efforts to arrest Jesus (John 10:39; 11:57). • Public sentiment was divided, creating volatile crowds (John 7:12–13). The Disciples’ Limited Perspective • They viewed danger as an obstacle, not a stage for God’s glory (John 11:4). • They had not yet grasped the necessity of Jesus’ suffering (Matthew 16:21–23). • Fear clouded their confidence in promises such as John 10:28–29. Jesus’ Response: Purpose Overrides Peril • “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? … If anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (John 11:9–10). • Jesus affirmed that His earthly mission had an appointed “daylight” allotted by the Father—no force could shorten it (John 10:18). • His return to Judea would unveil the Father’s glory through Lazarus’s resurrection (John 11:4, 40). Key Takeaways for Believers • God’s purposes are never thwarted by human hostility (Psalm 2:1–4; Acts 4:27–28). • Obedience may lead straight into risk, yet remains the safest place when God calls (Proverbs 3:5–6). • Fear fades when we trust the One who holds both the mission and the timing of our lives (John 16:33; 17:12). |
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