August 30
Lesson 13 (KJV)
Two Kinds of Wisdom
Devotional Reading: Psalm 32:1–11
Background Scripture: James 3:13–18; 5:7–12
James 3:13–18
13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
7. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Key Verse
The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.—James 3:17
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. State the answer to the question posed in James 3:13a.
2. Contrast the sources, characteristics, and results of the two kinds of wisdom.
3. Create a plan for improvement regarding the one behavior of James 3:17 that he or she lacks most.
HOW TO SAY IT
| Corinthians | Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin). |
| Deuteronomy | Due-ter-ahn-uh-me. |
| Galatians | Guh-lay-shunz. |
| Philemon | Fih-lee-mun or Fye-lee-mun. |
| Philippians | Fih-lip-ee-unz. |
| Titus | Ty-tus. |
Introduction
A. How to Suffer
It has been said that all of life is suffering. This idea is not all that shocking, of course. It has been articulated in many contexts around the world. As Christians, we understand that the suffering we experience is a result of sin in general.
Some try to downplay the reality of suffering. But suffering—especially in the form of persecution—is part of the Christian life. In James’s day, the limited scope of Christianity shaped the types of persecution. Today, when Christianity is a global faith, persecution differs from culture to culture. In certain African nations, Muslim populations have severely persecuted Christian neighbors. In other locations, official government policy hinders Christian meetings and the formation of churches.
In the West, the matter is not quite so clear-cut. What constitutes persecution? While we are not being thrown to the lions in the Roman Colosseum or burned at the stake, subtle forms of persecution do indeed exist. These include social ostracism, which is part of the life experience of many Christians. How should we handle this kind of persecution when we encounter it?
B. Lesson Context
At the beginning of our studies in James, we noted a few themes that run throughout the letter. These themes unite the disparate topics that James addresses. Wisdom is one such theme. Recall, for example, that at the outset of his letter James encouraged his readers to have patience in the midst of temptations or trials (James 1:2–4; lesson 9). This they could do by actively seeking God’s wisdom (1:5). In today’s text, James addresses two very different situations, both of which demand wisdom on the part of believers.
I. In Education
(James 3:13–18)
James 3:1–12, last week’s lesson, introduced an address to teachers (masters) and potential teachers among first-century churches specifically. Even so, we proposed extended application to all Christians. We wonder, however, if the remainder of James 3 is also addressed specifically to teachers and potential teachers since James does not use the words teachers or masters in these six verses. Ultimately, though, such a question is only hypothetical; it’s impossible to imagine these verses applying only to teachers and not to anyone else!
A. Good Teachers (v. 13)
13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
By speaking of the one who is a wise man and endued with knowledge, James likely continues to have the teachers in mind. He introduces the issue in a confrontational way: “So you think you’re wise and knowledgeable?” he seems to ask. “Then prove it by a good conversation.” The word in the original language translated conversation refers to more than talk or a pattern of speech. More broadly, it refers to one’s entire way of life or lifestyle. This word occurs in a dozen other New Testament passages.
The teacher’s pattern of life must manifest good works; a teacher must put into practice personally what is taught. We see this idea of matching talk with way of life repeatedly in the New Testament: the truth of Christian teaching is verified by the way of life of those who teach it.
The apostle Peter seems equally concerned with the relationship between good works and one’s lifestyle (1 Peter 2:12). A teacher’s knowledge—or claims of having knowledge—must be backed up with evidence (see James 2:18; lesson 11). There is a word for those who say one thing but do another. That word is hypocrite.
The word translated meekness carries much overlap in meaning with the word gentleness. Paul connects the two words that way in 2 Corinthians 10:1 and Titus 3:2.
| What Do You Think? Which will you focus on more this week: gaining wisdom that gentleness may result, or the other way around? Why? Digging Deeper |
What Ministers Must Know
In the confidence of youth, many preachers and teachers who are fresh out of Bible college or seminary are tempted to trust in their recently acquired knowledge. That was true of me when I first entered ministry. It took some difficult relationships with critical church members to convince me that knowing all the right answers to doctrinal questions wasn’t the sole qualification for having a blessed ministry.
Yet God blessed me with one or more wise elders in every one of those churches. Their years of life had taught them some things about ministry that I had not learned in the classroom. I had knowledge that they didn’t have; but they had wisdom that I didn’t have.
James doesn’t make wisdom and knowledge mutually exclusive. The good teacher will have both! Do you?
—C. R. B.
B. Earthly Wisdom (vv. 14–16)
14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Envying translates a word that can also be rendered “zeal,” as it is in John 2:17—that’s zeal in a good sense. The lesson verse before us portrays zeal in a bad sense, as an attitude that crosses over into inappropriate jealousy (Romans 13:13; etc.). That such envy is bitter suggests that it manifests itself in anger and harsh speaking.
It is conceivable in this context that teachers might harbor envy of each other’s gifts. This would result in strife, as it had in Corinth (compare 1 Corinthians 1:10–13; 11:18). If this is the case, there is no reason for any of James’s readers to glory in their knowledge or their (so-called) wisdom. Such behavior will seem from the outside to prove that their teaching is a lie. Thus it brings disrepute to the truth of the gospel they proclaim.
15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
James has articulated the standard: lives must match words. But the reality is that at least some among James’s readers do not meet this standard. They adhere to their own wisdom, a wisdom that is not from above, meaning that it is not from God (contrast James 1:17). All one has to do is consider its fruits in 3:14 to see this! We might say that earthly wisdom is “worldly.” The idea is the same: it does not originate from God.
Sensual is the very opposite of spiritual (see also Jude 19)—devoid of the Spirit of God. The condemnation devilish reinforces the identity of its source (compare 1 Timothy 4:1).
| What Do You Think? How should we handle wisdom principles that seem to be at odds with one another? (Example: Proverbs 26:4 in contrast to 26:5?) Digging Deeper |
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.All of this should be no surprise: worldly wisdom leads to bad outcomes. In this case, it leads to confusion and every evil work (compare Galatians 5:19–21). The communal impact of this “wisdom” is damaging in the extreme. It threatens the very integrity of the churches.
C. Heavenly Wisdom (vv. 17, 18)17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
There is a better choice! The adjectives that James applies to the wisdom that is from above, from God, call to mind Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). Most of these terms are clear because they are used in a manner that is consistent with the other writers of the New
Testament.Easy to be intreated means something like “willing to yield” or “open to reason.” To be without partiality goes hand in hand with having no hypocrisy (compare James 1:22, 26; 2:1–4, 9).
A Peaceful Approach
As my late wife, Pat, declined in health, we bought a “lift chair” for her. It both reclined and boosted her into a semi-standing position. Within a week the chair quit working. I called the furniture store to demand an immediate repair. I was told that a repairman would be out in a week. At my insistence, he came the next day. But the defective part would take weeks to arrive. I then demanded a new chair. My insistence was met with refusal.
But soon Judy arrived. I expressed my frustration, and she volunteered to help. I listened as she sweetly explained the situation. Within a few minutes, Judy received the promise that a new chair would be delivered the next day.
Judy’s approach to the problem was a perfect example of wisdom. Her gentleness contrasted with my brashness; her peaceful approach countered my anger. Judy showed me how to practice what James said. Are you a Judy, or do you need a Judy?
—C. R. B.18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
The desired goal of one who seeks true wisdom is peace. Heretofore, the teachers may have been fostering (or at least haven’t tried to stop) conflicts among themselves (James 4:1). Those who make peace, however, are said to sow in peace (compare Matthew 5:9; Romans 14:19). The fruit of righteousness can be both what is sown and what is harvested as a cycle of peace begins. Righteousness is inclusive of one’s words and one’s works (compare Philippians 1:11).
| What Do You Think? What will you commit to doing this week to promote the healing of a divide, either between you and someone else or as a mediator for two warring parties? Digging Deeper |
In Persecution
(James 5:7–12)In order best to understand James’s directives in 5:7–12, next, we have to understand that these are in response to the first six verses of the chapter. A strong argument can be made that 5:1–6 is spoken against landlords who are unbelievers. We notice that they are not called to repent but to “weep and howl” in light of the coming judgment (James 5:1; contrast 4:7–10).
Such landowners come from the handful of rich outsiders who make life miserable for many of their tenant farmers and/or day laborers. It is unlikely that such landlords ever hear or read these words themselves. Instead, the accusations are written for the benefit of impoverished Christians of Jewish background to whom the letter as a whole is addressed (note the 15 uses of the word “brethren”; James 1:2, 16, 19; 2:1; etc.).
A. Be Patient (vv. 7–11)7. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James is writing to a group of believers who have cause to be angry and despondent. The word brethren indicates that James’s words are not intended for the rich landlord unbelievers of James 5:1–6 (see above), but for Christians who suffer at their hands.
James points the oppressed believers to the coming of the Lord as the ultimate solution. This might seem like a cop-out to some modern readers who are used to enacting change through the democratic process. But we have to remember that the world of the first century AD has no such process. Appeal for change might be made to the consciences of those who have the power to make a change (see Philemon 8–17). But hope for change ultimately resides in taking the long view, which looks to the return of Christ.
The patience this requires is illustrated by an analogy of a husbandman, another word for farmer. To await Jesus’ return requires long patience on the part of believers (compare Galatians 6:9). Just as the farmer waits patiently for his crop, the poor, oppressed believers are to wait patiently for the coming of God’s judgment. Because God can be trusted to send a harvest in its time (Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24; Joel 2:23), Jesus can also be trusted to return as He has promised.
The seasons of rain mentioned may not be similar to our experience. In Israel it is quite rare for rain to fall between May 1 and October 15. Thus the early and latter rain refers to rain in fall and spring, respectively (compare Song of Solomon 2:11). Since James’s addressees are “scattered abroad” (James 1:1), their experience will differ by location. But they undoubtedly know of the crop and weather cycles of the land of Israel.8. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Just like the farmer of verse 7, James’s audience is to be patient. This no less applies to us today. The counsel to stablish, or strengthen, their hearts speaks to one’s inner resolve. Christians must be resolute and courageous in earthly circumstances while awaiting the coming of the Lord. Such resolve will involve rejecting the negative views of skeptics (2 Peter 3:3–15; etc.).
| What Do You Think? Without giving directive adivce, how would you counsel someone who comes to you admitting a problem with impatience? Digging Deeper |
9a. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned.
Why would James’s addressees be holding grudges against one another? Based on what James has said about their oppressors, we could certainly understand how many in James’s audience might be tempted to hold grudges against those who have mistreated them. But that is not what James deals with in this verse.
One possibility is that those to whom James writes are taking out their frustrations with their rich oppressors on each another. Perhaps they disagree about how to handle the situation. Perhaps their oppressive situations are unequal, resulting in covetousness of a fellow believer’s assets or circumstances. Regardless, they are in danger of being condemned unless they stop holding grudges (compare James 4:11, 12). It would be tragic indeed if the judgment that God has prepared for their oppressors also comes on some of them because of failure in this regard.
9b. Behold, the judge standeth before the door.
This warning implies the imminent return of the Lord (see on James 5:8, above). But people understand that idea in different ways since imminent can mean “expected very soon” or “can happen at any time.” Either understanding is cause for repentance! Sin must be put aside immediately. When Christians harbor bitterness toward one another, they lose their witness.
10. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Because of the strong opposition they faced, the prophets are examples to James’s readers (and to all future generations of believers) of suffering affliction, and of patience. They endured so much (Matthew 5:12). As Hebrews 11:33, 37, 38 says, these were men
who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.… They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy).
The prophets are thus examples to all Christians of all eras in their faith-based manner of life. They did not merely speak the words of God; rather, they lived out their faith and trusted in Him by action.
But above all, the prophets were patient. The nations of Israel and Judah heard the words of the prophets and ignored them. We know that this was frustrating for the men who were called to prophetic ministry. It required a great deal of patience for them to keep preaching God’s message of repentance to people who would not listen and would not obey—to their own destruction.
| What Do You Think? Which of the prophets best serves as an example for you to emulate personally with regard to patience? Why? Digging Deeper |
11a. Behold, we count them happy which endure.
This phrase speaks of the prophets as those which endure. The language is reminiscent of the blessing found in the Sermon on the Mount at Matthew 5:11, 12:
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
11b. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
This leads James to another example of patience and perseverance: that of Job (see Job 1:20–22; 2:10). The end of the Lord refers to the Lord’s purpose in allowing Job to suffer as he did (compare Hebrews 10:36).
Consider the outcomes of Job’s suffering (see Job 42:10, 12–17). Those outcomes cause us to see the grace of the Lord, that He is full of tender mercy (see Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 103:8). The word pitiful, which has changed in meaning in the centuries since the King James Version came into being, refers to compassion and tenderheartedness (see also Lamentations 4:10; 1 Peter 3:8).
B. Do Not Swear (v. 12)
12. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Jesus appears by name only twice in this letter (James 1:1; 2:1). Even so, James regularly alludes to His teachings, particularly as recorded in Matthew and Luke, and frequently from the Sermon on the Mount. The verse before us offers the clearest connection in that regard, which features a direct quotation from Matthew 5:34–37. Elsewhere the teachings of Jesus bubble just below the surface of James’s discussions of wealth and poverty, suffering, wisdom, the control of the tongue, and much more.
The verse at hand caps off this section of James’ letter. The phrase but above all things implies that the swearing of oaths is the most egregious sin that the original readers are engaged in. Some commentators argue that oath-swearing is the most serious because a broken oath directly involves God in a lie. We can envision situations in which poor Christians are tempted to swear oaths in order to obtain credit for food, all the while knowing they might not be able to pay the bill when it is due. In other words, the swearing of an oath involves them in behavior that does not glorify God—quite the opposite! We note the negative outcomes of oaths in Matthew 14:6–12; 23:16–22; and elsewhere.
Conclusion
A. From Above
Today’s lesson brings two disparate passages together under one unifying theme: the supremacy of the wisdom from above, and the need for it in a variety of situations. Teachers, then as now, can wreak great spiritual damage through the spoken word among those they teach. Ordinary believers, suffering greatly under economic oppression, negate the gospel and its power by harboring bitterness against fellow Christians.
The solution is for Christians to seek “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17). When armed with it, we can put suffering into a larger perspective and be empowered with patience to endure until Jesus returns.
We all face challenges over the course of our lives. The real question is how we will react when those times come. Will we pause to seek wisdom from above? Or will we rely on earthly wisdom in our response?
The need for wisdom from above and patience go hand in hand as our discipline and resolve are tested. All this has a very real bearing on our spiritual well-being in this life; continual rejection of God’s wisdom has eternal implications. As we heed James’s call to seek wisdom from above, we will experience a harvest of righteousness. Guaranteed.
B. Prayer
Heavenly Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit this day, help us to focus our hearts and minds on the wisdom that is from above—Your wisdom. We ask this in the name of the wisest person who ever lived: Jesus. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Choose God’s wisdom.
KID’S CORNER
Don’t Stumble! Walk in the Light!
Sunday August 30, 2020
John 11:1-10
John 11:1-10
(John 11:1) Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem, and Jesus was there often enough to know and love Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. As the Son of God, Jesus loved everyone and everyone who came to know Jesus knew that He loved them. Today, those who follow Jesus know that He loves them. Jesus makes everyone who believes in Him feel special because they truly ARE special to Him! They are one of His sheep! Mary and Martha must have concluded that Lazarus’ illness was so serious that it could lead to his death, so they reached out to Jesus, who they knew loved them.
(John 11:2) It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
John will tell his readers more about Mary and her anointing the Lord with perfume in John 12:1-8, which we will discuss when we come to John 12:1-8. We do learn that Lazarus was Mary and Martha’s brother. As John proceeds with his account, we will learn why Mary showed her deep love and gratitude toward Jesus with this anointing and what it meant to Jesus.
(John 11:3) So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
The sisters knew Lazarus was ill and probably near death, so they sent a message go Jesus. They knew enough about Jesus (as we will learn as John’s account of this event unfolds) to call Him, “Lord.” They knew that Jesus had the love and the power to heal Lazarus when they identified Lazarus as “he whom you love.” They did not ask Jesus to do anything or tell Jesus what to do. Most probably, they knew Jesus well enough to know that they did not need to tell Jesus what to do. They believed He would do what was best and right at the right time, and He would heal their brother.
(John 11:4) But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
When Jesus received the message from the two sisters, He immediately said, “This illness does not lead to death,” for Jesus knew the eventual outcome of Lazarus’ illness. His illness would not end in death. Jesus knew Lazarus would die physically, but Lazarus would not die eternally. Lazarus would not die and be forever separated from the love of God and from those who love God. Because of his illness, Lazarus would die, but Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead so his illness would not end with his death and eternal separation from those he loved. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He knew that the living Lazarus and those who saw him raised from the dead would glorify God. Lazarus’ illness would lead some to believe, glorify, and honor Jesus as the Son of God, and by believing in Jesus they would receive the gift of eternal life too.
(John 11:5) Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
For good reason, John emphasized the love of Jesus for this family and their love for Jesus. Jesus did not act as He did from lack of love for them or because of their lack of love for Him. God is love. Jesus loves everyone. Jesus loved those who came to Him (where John the Baptist had preached and baptized earlier) for Him to heal them and teach them, and He loved those who were still on their way to see Him, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet their Messiah. Remember: for similar loving reasons and to save lost Samaritans, Jesus once told His disciples that they needed to go to Galilee by going through Samaria (see John 4:1-45).
(John 11:6) So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
Since Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days when Jesus arrived in Bethany, Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead or too near death for Him to travel to Bethany in time for Him to heal Lazarus in person. Before anyone else knew Lazarus was ill, Jesus had known that Lazarus would become ill and die, and Jesus had planned to do more than heal Lazarus. By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus intended to demonstrate personally what it meant for Him to be the resurrection and the life. He stayed two days longer to finish the work He was doing where He was, because He always did the Father’s work according to the Father’s timing in perfect agreement with the Father. He did not stay two days longer for lack of compassion for Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. He knew they would grieve, but He also knew that upon His arrival their grief would soon turn to joy when He reunited them with their brother.
(John 11:7) Then after this He *said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
Jesus did not tell His disciples the Father’s plans for them immediately after receiving the news that Lazarus was ill. Jesus waited two days before telling the disciples that they were going back to Judea. We can probably think of many good reasons for His waiting two days before telling them they were going back into harm’s way. Surely, Jesus wanted them to focus on those coming to Him for help rather than focus on their fears. Jesus does not always give His followers much advance notice before telling them, “Follow Me!” or “Let us go!” As a matter of faith, Jesus perfectly did whatever His Father told Him when the Father wanted it done. And as a matter of faith, Jesus’ followers try to do whatever Jesus tells them when He tells them knowing the Holy Spirit will help them.
(John 11:8) The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
Not knowing as much about Jesus as we do, for we know the rest of Jesus’ history in the Bible, Jesus’ disciples were understandably shocked and fearful when Jesus told them His plans. Jesus was their “Rabbi,” which means teacher, and they were His disciples, which means students, and they thought Jesus was going to lead all of them into unreasonable danger and possibly death. Thomas would even exclaim, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Between their recent visit to Jerusalem in December and the soon to come Passover Feast where they were headed, four months had gone by, but Jesus’ dangerous escape from death (and theirs) was still foremost in their minds.
(John 11:9) 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.
Jesus knew when His final hour would come, and He tried to prepare His disciples for that eventual hour when He would die on the cross as the Savior of the world. Now, Jesus wanted to turn their attention away from their fears to the work of God before them. In Jesus’ day, the daylight hours were divided into twelve equal hours, so the length of an hour would vary according to the season of the year. Jesus meant that we need to do the work of God all day every day while we have the light of day, the light the sun gives to the world. Jesus also meant that as the true light of the world and as long as He was in the world with them that they needed to do the special work that His Father called them to do. If they followed Him, they would not stumble because He was and is the true light of the world. They needed to keep their focus on Jesus and on following Jesus to do God’s will, and if they did so, they would not stumble or “trip into sin”—perhaps the sin of not trusting Jesus to lead them rightly. Earlier, Jesus had promised them, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
(John 11:10) “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
Jesus had told them earlier that some prefer to walk in the dark. In John 3:19, Jesus said, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” Jesus was and is the light of the world. Because the light of God, the light of Jesus Christ, the truth of God in Christ, is not in some people (in those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior), they walk in the dark and they will stumble. Those who wanted to stone Jesus and who eventually applauded when He was nailed to the cross stumbled and sinned because they preferred to do evil rather than walk in the light by following Jesus. Later, Jesus preached the good news again to such people, saying “I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness” (John 12:46). Too many people prefer to remain in darkness rather than come to Jesus and believe in Him.
Don’t Stumble! Walk in the Light!
Sunday August 30, 2020
John 11:1-10
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world (John 11:9—KJV).
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” (John 11:9—NASB).
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world” (John 11:9—NRSV).
After Jesus learned Lazarus was sick, He waited two days before telling His disciples they were going back to Judea. In dismay, His disciples exclaimed, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you!” (John 11:8). Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight?” In Jesus’ day, daylight was divided into twelve equal hours, but depending on the season some days and hours were longer than others. Jesus meant that when people work in the light of the sun rather than in the darkness of night, they do not stumble. But “Those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them” (John 11:10). John’s gospel teaches that Jesus is “the light of all people” and “the true light which enlightens everyone” (John 1:4,9). Jesus spoke with a double meaning. Earlier, Jesus taught, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Jesus loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, but He also loved and wanted to help those around Him and those traveling to see Him where He stayed. Jesus worked according to God’s timetable, so He worked two more days before going to Judea. He used His hours helping all who came to receive healing and teaching. Soon, His final hour would come, and He would die as “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). God helps everyone in the most loving ways and with the best possible timing.
Thinking Further
Don’t Stumble! Walk in the Light!
Sunday August 30, 2020
John 11:1-10
Name _______________________________
- How did Mary and Martha describe Lazarus and his situation? What did they ask Jesus to do?
- What did Jesus say Lazarus’ death would lead to?
- Why do you think Jesus stayed two days longer instead of rushing to see Lazarus, Mary, and Martha?
- How did the disciples feel when Jesus told them that they would be returning to Judea?
- What did Jesus say about day and night?
Discussion and Thinking Further
- How did Mary and Martha describe Lazarus and his situation? What did they ask Jesus to do? They said, “he whom you love is ill.” They did not ask or tell Jesus what to do. They trusted He would take the loving, best, and right action.
- What did Jesus say Lazarus’ death would lead to? It would not lead to death. It would lead to God’s glory and the glory of the Son of God through it.
- Why do you think Jesus stayed two days longer instead of rushing to see Lazarus, Mary, and Martha? He worked according to God’s timing, according to the hours of daylight. He also loved the people around Him and those coming to Him for healing and teaching. As much as He loved them, He would not go to see Lazarus, Mary, and Martha until His work was done, and the Father and He would decide when His work was done.
- How did the disciples feel when Jesus told them that they would be returning to Judea? They were afraid to go and they told Jesus that the religious leaders had just been wanting to stone Him.
- What did Jesus say about day and night? Jesus said that we need to work during the daylight hours when we can see what we are doing. In the night, we cannot see where we are going, and we are apt to stumble. Jesus is the light of the world, and we need to walk and work in His light by following Him. Since Christians must do God’s work in this dark world, His light is within us and He will help us see to do God’s work. We must not turn to walking away from Jesus into the dark night.
Word Search
Don’t Stumble! Walk in the Light!
Sunday August 30, 2020
John 11:1-10
Name _________________________________
S S U R A Z A L S S E N L L I
T M Q E L C D O D H U R V K A
A D N D P U B E G C I D T J Q
Y R S V J Q A M P Z T N U M O
E O U Y M T I V I A D D R E U
D K S G H E H N H E E Y T S D
D F E W L O Z J V A F X H S J
C E J G U N Y O Y G H P R A T
Y B T R Y I L A S P L T D G L
G N S N V E V M X M Q O R E U
W J A E I Q Y A B D Y G R A B
X N R H C O C R I E W Q O D M
E W K J T P N Y O X J G A Q N
D J R C F E L A J L U I H S K
T W E L V E B I U Z G V P D J
Illness
Lazarus
Mary
Martha
Bethany
Anointed
Message
Lord
Death
Glory
Loved
Stayed
Judea
Twelve
Hours
True and False Test
Don’t Stumble! Walk in the Light!
Sunday August 30, 2020
John 11:1-10
Name ____________________________________
Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.
- Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha, and they lived in Bethany. True or False
- Lazarus was ill, so his sisters sent a messenger to Jesus. True or False
- The sisters asked Jesus to heal Lazarus, because He loved him.
True or False
- Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus would not die from his illness. True or False
- Jesus said that the Son of God would be glorified through Lazarus’
illness. True or False
- Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, so He rushed back to heal
Lazarus. True or False
- After two days, Jesus told His disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
True or False
- The disciples were always excited to go to Jerusalem and see the big city lights. True or False
- Jesus said those who walk during the day do not stumble. True or False
- The light is not in those who walk at night, so they stumble. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
Prayer
Heavenly Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit this day, help us to focus our hearts and minds on the wisdom that is from above—Your wisdom. We ask this in the name of the wisest person who ever lived: Jesus. Amen.