John 11 has the wonderful account of the raising of Lazarus. The ministry of Jesus covering 3½ years, is now approaching its climax. The authorities are intensifying their efforts to arrest and kill him and Jesus and his disciples are staying out of Judea.

On hearing news about Lazarus’ sickness Jesus waits two days before saying, “‘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?’” (verses 7,8). Jesus makes a strange answer, “If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world” (verse 9). This world? This world is in spiritual darkness and the one who walks “in the night” says Jesus, “stumbles because the light is not in him” (verse 10). Are we in danger of stumbling or is the light in us? What does Jesus mean? In chapter 12 Jesus says, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (verse 46). See also 8:12.

Jesus tells his disciples, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him” (verse 15). There follows the remarkable account of the raising of Lazarus after he had been dead for four days; as a result, “many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did believed in him” (verse 45). The Pharisees were told of this remarkable miracle and its effect. They became even more determined to put him to death, seeing his popularity as a threat that would “take away both our place and our nation” (verse 48).

Over the last 100 years or so a modern miracle has occurred. In 1917 Jerusalem and the land of Israel was delivered from the control of the Turks. Then after the Second World War the U.N. voted in favour of part of the promised land becoming a Jewish nation. Against overwhelming odds the Jews moved in and triumphed! It was the resurrection miracle of a nation, destroyed 1,878 years preciously, which God’s word had foretold (Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25).

This modern resurrection miracle has occurred as prophesied “that you may be believe.” May we be among them. Do you see “the light of the world” with eyes of faith, for as this world plunges into darkness only those with faith will endure.