John 11:5-16

John 11:5-16
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Thomas gains a reputation after the resurrection for doubting that Jesus has truly risen from the dead.  We don't mention that here in John 11, Thomas is ready to go with Jesus when Jesus says he is returning to the place where they were ready to stone Jesus.  Thomas bravely calls the disciples to follow Jesus, even though they may be heading into a place of danger.  He is leading them into and through danger so that they see that he is not afraid, trying to give them confidence to face whatever challenges may await.  While it might have been simpler for Jesus to heal Lazarus before he died, he did it this way so that the disciples could see that Jesus has power over death -- and therefore they need not fear.  Jesus will lead them before the Judeans who might stone them and into the graveyard where death looms, and he will lead them out, victorious.
  This is our story, too.  Jesus doesn't lead us around death or give us the ability to avoid all sickness and death.  Instead he wanders into danger with us, and he goes into the graveyard, always by our side.  As the 23rd Psalm says, when we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear, because Jesus is with us.  Always near, he goes into the darkest places we find ourselves, and he leads us out.  Let us also go, that we may be with him, for only with him is there life on the other side of sickness and death.