Stumbling in the Dark

Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:7-18

When we arrived in Erie last Friday, we had a bit of rain as we came in to town.
We didn't think much of it, but when we arrived at my brother and sister in laws house, the electricity was off and everyone was scurrying around. The day before the big wedding and the food prep and other important things had come to a big halt. We are so dependent on electricity and we expect to have light and juice at all hours. As a society, we are mostly unable to cope in the dark and we light everything up so we do not have to even try. Light is essential to life and we have found ways to make it so permanent in our lives we never have to do without.

The disciples find themselves completely dependent of Jesus as they face the loss of their dear friend. Jesus seems to be talking nonsense and lacks compassion for the loss of Lazarus. Jesus decides to take them all in to the teeth of the religious opposition who have a price of Jesus' head. The disciples feel like people stumbling in the dark, following their teacher to their doom. But they follow, knowing that he has provided before and that with time and trusting have learned to expect miracles and light at the end of the tunnel.

Today, which is half gone now, I want to focus on trusting God the whole way. I can always see the obstacles and fear fumbling around, foolishly falling in the dark. And yet God has promised to be with us, to be with me and to light my path and led me to safe places of living water. So in this day where everyone seems undone and stumbling, I want to trust and follow Jesus, expecting the light at the end of the tunnel today.