Lazarus
“Rabbi,” they replied, “the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?” John 11:8 · Berean Standard Bible
The disciples object: 'Rabbi, they just tried to stone you there, and you want to go back?'
Their fear is completely understandable. The last visit to Judea nearly got Jesus killed.
The worried disciples try to talk Jesus out of returning to the dangerous region.
The disciples are thinking about survival. Jesus is thinking about something much bigger. This tension between human fear and divine purpose runs through the whole story.
The disciples object, citing the recent attempt to stone Jesus (lithazō), revealing their focus on physical danger rather than divine purpose.
The title 'Rabbi' and the reference to stoning connect this to the Feast of Dedication confrontation in 10:31-39. The disciples' fear, while natural, demonstrates limited understanding of Jesus' sovereignty over events.
The disciples protest Jesus' plan, reminding Him of the mortal threat awaiting in Judea.
The disciples voice the obvious concern: returning to Judea means returning to the people who just tried to kill Jesus. Their objection is reasonable but misses the larger picture.
6So on hearing that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days,
7and then He said to the disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8“Rabbi,” they replied, “the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?”
9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.
10But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light.”
Read all of John 11 — Jesus weeps at a tomb. Then He calls a dead man out of it. The shortest verse in the Bible and the most powerful — separated by minutes.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad