Knowing Jesus: “Night Vision” – John 11:1-46

The sentry marched in front of the gate, eyes ahead. Another guard watched the fence line from the tower, angling a spotlight along the fence anytime a rustle was heard from the bushed near the fence. It was difficult to see, and the light was the key to their defense. The commando unit pulled up to the edge of the jungle undetected. They could see ahead clearly with their night vision apparatus. They had the advantage, because they had “eyes” that could see what others could not.

Key Principle: Those who see the bigger picture of what God is doing live in the present with a firm confidence. The confidence is not in the situation, nor in this life, but in the God that made them and His good plan.

Take a few minutes and look at John 11:1-46. The story is familiar – it is the death of Lazarus and the arrival of Jesus to Bethany. When you look closely, you see that Jesus had the ability to see what others did not and that made all the difference in what how He walked. He modeled something worth a second look!

1. People saw the sick man, Jesus saw the opportunity for God’s work to be moved ahead. (the testimony of 11:45). Tragedy, disruption, detour are confidently handled when we believe that what God does apart from our poor choices is not our problem.. but our opportunity! (11:1-4) Jesus had using God’s door of opportunity in mind.

John 11:1 “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

2. His followers saw the danger, but Jesus saw the clear direction from His Father that now was the time to go. At times, waiting on the Lord will be interpreted by others as inaction. Yet, for one who truly seeks the Lord about what to do and when to do it, God will move them from the darkness to the light – and they will walk with confidence in that light. (11:5-10) Jesus had God’s perspective in mind.

11:5 “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

3. His followers took the little bit they heard and formed an opinion of what is “best” from it. Jesus knew the situation, and understood that even His followers needed the troubles to help them see the truth. Seek the Father about troubles. He has said that He will answer. When you know what He directs you to do, it is not a committee that decides – it is obedience to follow Him. (11:116) Jesus had God’s testimony in mind.

11:11 “After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

4. In pain we lament the trouble. We believe that God didn’t really want it to happen, because we think we understand the impact our trouble has on the universe – because we hurt over it. Yet, Jesus saw the big picture of the Father at work – both then and in the future. It is that confidence that helps a believer walk through trouble, When I know the bigger plan in play, I can walk in faith despite the troubles without losing my grip. (11:17-37) Jesus had God’s plan in mind.

11:17 “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

5. The people saw the weeping Jesus, asking that the tomb be opened. Martha thought she knew the situation better than Jesus and advised Jesus not to open the tomb. We often think we need to inform the Savior and give Him advice. Jesus knew that God heard Him in the conversation about this moment they ALREADY HAD. That was the secret. Jesus had obedience to God’s direction in mind.

11:38 “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

So, what is the night vision that Jesus had? He saw each day’s troubles as God’s open door of opportunity to see things from God’s perspective, because He spent time with His Father and sought Him about responses to pain and trouble. He looked for how the pain and trouble could be used to further the testimony of His Heavenly Father’s greatness. He looked for ways to expose the plan and purpose of God in daily life, and walked in obedience to His Father’s direction.

Because of these five things, Jesus could see what others around Him could NOT see.

They felt the pain, and groped in darkness. He felt the pain and pulled Himself into the light of His Father’s direction. They accessed their experience and tried to tell God how it should be. He listened to His Father and saw how it must be. They tried to explain away how a good and loving Father could purpose such PAIN in their lives. He accepted His Father’s knowledge as superior and sought to hear the voice of His Father concerning the pain and follow the Father’s plan to bring glory to Him.

Jesus possessed the night vision goggles that brought clear vision when others saw darkness… and we can possess them too! Those who see the bigger picture of what God is doing live in the present with a firm confidence. The confidence is not in the situation, nor in this life, but in the God that made them and His good plan.