July 2, 2023

Time is Winding Down

“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.” John 11:8-10 (NASB)

            I used to work overtime on the Interstate Highway at night. It is because work could not be completed in daylight hours without clogging traffic. Most employees of these companies want to work during daylight hours because after dark it isn’t as safe. If possible, most companies stop work when it gets dark simply because it’s dangerous. There is a time to work and a time to stop.

            “The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” Somehow the disciples still didn’t understand Jesus’ mission was their Heavenly Father’s mission too! The connection was not made either from ignorance or protection and loyalty to Jesus. In viewing the scenes from chapter 10:31-39, they thought the trip into Jerusalem was a near catastrophe. Now, if Jesus wanted to return to the limelight again, would it not be suicidal? Especially when the trip took them very close to Jerusalem again. They felt the need to argue with Jesus about His personal safety, as if He needed it. “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.” This illustration of time and light looks back to a period when daylight was the only means when men could work. It started at daylight. When darkness settled in, work stopped. Men rested for the next day’s work. This illustration Jesus used though had a more significant purpose. During Jesus’ ministry on the earth, it was considered a time of light. Light had come into the world and exposed the darkness in all mankind. This time of light was the time when Jesus would share His message of hope and redemption. The darkness would come when Jesus faced the darkness of His own death. Then all His work would cease. The disciples would scatter trying to save their own lives. Here is another analogy, “Jesus responded in two ways. First, He asserted that His disciples were safe with Him, just as a man who walks during daylight hours is safe from stumbling and falling (11:9–10). Only the one who walks by night (11:10), without the light of the sun (the light of this world), is in danger of stumbling and falling. This imagery suggests that as long as the disciples walked with Jesus, they would be preserved from harm. This indeed was the case, since Jesus himself protected His disciples even during moments of greatest danger (18:8–9; 17:11–12, 15). Therefore, the disciples could (even should, for their own safety!) accompany Jesus to Bethany.”[1] Whatever way Jesus shared this illustration in one form or another, the message was clear. Time was running out for Him to do the work the Father appointed to Him to complete. There was very little daylight left.

            All of us have only so much time on this earth. This is our daylight hours. They will end one day. This becomes a time of darkness, when we walk the valley of death. This is why we have to make the most of our time here on earth. No person knows the day they will pass into eternity. We mut maximize it for the Kingdom of God, not our own personal kingdom of “things.” Just make sure when it ends, be sure first you are on the right side, and it’s with Jesus.

[1] Dongell, J. (1997). John: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 141). Wesleyan Publishing House.