Morning Moments

John 11:16 (KJV)
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Did you ever have a verse that you had read a thousand times in context jump out at you as though you had never seen it before? That is what this verse has done to me this morning.

Now look at the immediate context: John 11:11-16 (KJV)
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Why would Thomas (a twin) make such a statement as this after Jesus had just said "Lazarus is dead and I am glad for your sakes..."? Apparently Jesus had spent a good deal of time with the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It is very clear that they loved him. We don't know how close Thomas was to the family, but from our text, he too, was very close to Lazarus. But why would he thus have said, "Let us go that we may die with him?"

The ministry of Jesus had taken a turn for the worse it appeared, for he had preciously appealed to the masses, but now he was aggravating the murderous. Opposition had begun for him and for his disciples and perhaps Thomas who was a bit skeptical anyway had thought they would all be better off dead. We have no way of knowing what might have been on his mind, but think for a moment about yourself and the days ahead we seem to be facing.

The United States is seeing strong opposition to Christianity. We still have the freedom to worship as we please, but there is much pressure to "shut these Christians up." Our government has a greater appreciation it seems for Islam than it does for Christians and is certainly more tolerant.

What if this opposition to evangelical Christianity continues to escalate? Would there be someone who might say, "I would rather be dead than to live through this persecution and opposition." It's just a thought, but it is clear from the Scripture that persecution of Christians will continue and increase until the rapture.

In light of these thoughts and the coming events, and in the light of our text, let me encourage you. God is on the throne and Jesus is the Sovereign Lord, so we MUST remain faithful unto death. We must not seek easy ways out, wishing that we might as well die too. It is a fatalistic attitude that some do possess and should not.

Tradition tells us that Thomas was ultimately martyred, but how wonder how his "give up and die" attitude must have changed after the resurrection of Jesus and his complete surrender to "my Lord and my God".

What we now see may pale in comparison to what we shall see, but we must never lose heart and we must always keep the faith. The psalmist said, "Why art thou downcast O my soul? Hope thou in God".

DITTO

BLESSINGS!