WALKING IN THE LIGHT WHEN DARKNESS THREATENS
John 11:16
INTRODUCTION: FROM DESPERATION TO DIVINE ENCOUNTER
Brothers and sisters, let me take you to a moment of desperation in Scripture. Hagar stood in the wilderness of Beersheba with her son Ishmael. Abraham had sent them away. Their water ran out. Death approached. Hagar placed her dying son under a bush and walked away because she refused to watch him die. She wept. She had nothing left.
But God heard the boy crying. The Angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. God opened her eyes. She saw a well of water right there in the wilderness. God saved them both. He promised to make Ishmael into a great nation. Hagar went from despair to deliverance. She encountered the God who sees. Her situation transformed completely.
This brings us to our text today. John 11:16 says, "Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with Him.'" Jesus announced His intention to return to Judea. Everyone knew the religious leaders wanted to kill Him. The disciples feared for their lives. Darkness threatened to consume everything they believed. Yet Thomas spoke words of radical commitment. He chose to walk with Jesus into danger rather than abandon Him in safety.
This statement reveals far more than a moment of pessimism. It provides one of the strongest windows into Thomas’s character—his devotion, loyalty, courage, and misunderstanding.
a. Thomas the Loyal Disciple
Though often remembered as “Doubting Thomas,” here he emerges as Courageous Thomas.
Jesus is heading back into Judea, a region where the religious leaders had attempted to stone Him (John 10:31). The disciples fear for Jesus’ life—and their own.
Yet Thomas says:
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
This is not the language of a coward.
It is the language of a man willing to share the fate of his Master, whatever it may cost.
Many scholars note that this verse presents Thomas as deeply committed—even fatalistically committed—to Jesus’ mission.
b. Thomas’s Faith Mixed With Misunderstanding
Thomas does not fully understand Jesus’ power over life and death. His devotion is real, but his perspective is limited. His words show:
• Determination without comprehension
• Love without spiritual insight
• Courage mixed with resignation
He believes danger—and perhaps death—is ahead. But he still chooses loyalty.
c. Thomas Foreshadows the Cost of Discipleship
Unknowingly, Thomas speaks prophetically:
• The journey to Bethany indeed sets the stage for the growing hostility that leads to Jesus’ death (John 11:53).
• Thomas senses danger but cannot see the larger divine plan.
This moment reveals Thomas as a disciple who, though imperfect, is deeply sincere—a picture of many Christians today who follow faithfully even without full understanding.
A. THE CALL TO FOLLOW CHRIST INTO DANGER
Thomas understood the gravity of the situation. The Jewish leaders had already tried to stone Jesus in Jerusalem. Going back meant certain confrontation. Death loomed as a real possibility. Thomas did not minimize the threat. He acknowledged it fully.
Many believers today face similar crossroads. You know following Christ will cost you relationships. Your family opposes your faith. Your career demands compromise. Your friends mock your devotion. The darkness threatens to overwhelm your light. Thomas teaches us to count the cost honestly. He saw death ahead. He chose Jesus anyway.
Look at the commitment Thomas displayed. He told his fellow disciples, "Let us also go." He refused to let Jesus walk alone. He rallied others to join him. True discipleship means following Christ regardless of consequences. Peter later wrote, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
The darkness Thomas faced was external persecution. Your darkness might look different. Financial collapse threatens your family. Illness ravages your body. Depression suffocates your soul. Betrayal shatters your trust. Thomas shows us the response. Walk toward Jesus, not away from Him. Choose light over darkness. Choose faith over fear.
B. THE COURAGE TO DECLARE FAITH PUBLICLY
Thomas spoke his commitment aloud. He did not keep silent. He did not hide his devotion privately. Public declaration marked his decision. This matters tremendously for believers today.
Romans 10:9-10 tells us, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Faith requires voice. Belief demands declaration. Thomas understood this principle before Paul wrote it.
Your workplace pressures you to stay quiet about Jesus. Your school mocks Christian values. Your neighborhood sees faith as weakness. Thomas challenges you to speak up. Declare your allegiance. State your position. Let others know where you stand.
This public declaration does three things for you. First, it strengthens your own resolve. Speaking commitment aloud solidifies determination. Second, it encourages fellow believers. Thomas said "Let us also go." His courage inspired others. Your bold faith will embolden weak Christians around you. Third, it witnesses to unbelievers. Your declaration plants seeds. People watch how believers face darkness. They see light through your courage.
Consider the three Hebrew boys in Daniel 3:16-18. They told King Nebuchadnezzar publicly, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Public declaration. Bold faith. They walked into fire rather than compromise. God met them there.
C. THE CHOICE BETWEEN SAFETY AND OBEDIENCE
Thomas faced a clear choice. Stay back in safety or follow Jesus into danger. Comfort or obedience. Self-preservation or sacrifice. Every believer faces this choice repeatedly.
Abraham faced this choice when God called him to leave Ur. Genesis 12:1 records God's command: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you." Abraham chose obedience over safety. He left everything familiar. God blessed him beyond measure.
Moses faced this choice at the burning bush. Exodus 3:11 shows his hesitation: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Moses saw the danger. He questioned his ability. But God promised His presence. Moses chose obedience. He walked into Pharaoh's palace. God delivered two million slaves through him.
You face this choice today. God calls you to missionary work, but your family needs you here. God calls you to start that ministry, but finances look impossible. God calls you to forgive that person, but the wound runs deep. God calls you to stand for truth, but the cost seems too high. Thomas shows you the path. Choose obedience over safety.
Here is the truth that will transform your perspective. Safety apart from God's will is actually the most dangerous place to be. Jonah fled to Tarshish seeking safety from God's call to Nineveh. He ended up in a storm, thrown overboard, swallowed by a fish. His "safe" choice nearly killed him. Obedience to God is always the safest place, even when it looks dangerous. God protects those who follow Him.
Look at David facing Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. The entire army of Israel hid in safety. David ran toward the giant. He declared in 1 Samuel 17:45, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." David chose obedience over safety. God gave him victory.
D. THE COMPANIONSHIP OF CHRIST IN DARK TIMES
Thomas said, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." The keyword here is "with." Thomas wanted to be with Jesus, even in death. He valued Christ's presence more than his own life. This reveals the heart of true discipleship.
Jesus never asks you to face darkness alone. He promises in Matthew 28:20, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." When you walk into your darkness, Jesus walks beside you. When Hagar faced the wilderness, God appeared to her. When the Hebrew boys entered the furnace, a fourth man walked with them. When Daniel entered the lion's den, God shut the mouths of lions. When Paul was shipwrecked, Jesus sustained him. God's pattern never changes. He accompanies His people through every trial.
Psalm 23:4 declares this truth beautifully: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." The valley exists. Shadows of death appear. But God's presence eliminates fear. His companionship brings comfort.
Illustration: A father holds his young son's hand as they walk through a dark forest at night. The child was not afraid because his father was with him. The darkness remained. The forest stayed dangerous. But the father's presence changed everything. The boy trusted his father's strength. He relied on his father's knowledge of the path. He knew his father would protect him.
This is your relationship with God. The darkness in your life is absolute. The threats are genuine. The danger exists. But God holds your hand. He knows the path. He provides protection. His presence makes all the difference. You do not walk alone.
Isaiah 43:2 promises, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." Notice the text says "when" not "if." You will face waters. You will walk through fire. But God walks with you. The waters will not drown you. The fire will not consume you. His presence guarantees your protection.
CONCLUSION: TRUST GOD'S PROVISION IN THE WILDERNESS
Thomas chose to walk with Jesus into darkness. He did not know Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead. He did not know this trip would demonstrate God's glory. He only knew Jesus was going, and he would follow. Thomas walked by faith, not by sight.
Hagar sat in the wilderness convinced she and Ishmael would die. She saw no way out. No solution appeared. Death seemed certain. But God opened her eyes. Water was there all along. She simply could not see it. God provided exactly what she needed at exactly the right time.
This is your story today. You face your wilderness. Your water has run out. Death threatens. You see no solution. But God has already prepared provision. He has opened a well you cannot yet see. He will reveal it at the perfect moment. Your job is to trust Him while you wait.
The darkness you face today does not surprise God. He knew about your financial crisis before you did. He saw your health diagnosis coming. He understands your relational breakdown. He has already prepared your deliverance. Walk toward the light. Follow Jesus into the darkness. Trust His provision. Believe His promises.
ALTAR CALL
Listen to me right now. Some of you are sitting in your wilderness like Hagar. You have given up hope. You have walked away from your situation because you cannot bear to watch it die. You feel alone. Abandoned. Desperate. God is calling your name today. He sees you. He hears you. He has provision ready.
Others are like Thomas, standing at a crossroads. You know God is calling you forward. You see the danger ahead. Fear paralyzes you. Jesus is walking ahead of you. He turns and looks at you. He asks, "Will you follow Me?" Your comfort hangs in the balance. Your safety tempts you to stay back. But Jesus is calling you into the darkness because He knows His light will shine there.
Here is what I am asking you to do today:
If you need to surrender your wilderness to God, stand to your feet right now. Stop trying to solve it yourself. Stop carrying the burden alone. Let God show you the well He has already prepared. Trust His provision. Believe His promises.
If God is calling you into a dark place and you have been resisting, come to this altar. Tell Him you will follow Him anywhere. Declare like Thomas, "I will go, even if it means death." Choose obedience over safety. Choose faith over fear. God will walk with you every step.
If you have been hiding your faith, keeping silent when you should speak, come forward. Public declaration matters. Tell God you will no longer hide. You will declare your allegiance. You will let your light shine in darkness.
Do not leave here unchanged. God has spoken to you today. Your wilderness has an end. Your darkness has a purpose. Your trial has a testimony waiting. But you must trust Him. You must follow Him. You must believe Him.
Come now. The altar is open. Your breakthrough starts today. God is waiting to meet you here. He will open your eyes. He will show you the provision. He will walk with you through the darkness. Trust Him today. Follow Him today. Surrender to Him today.
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Blessings,
Pastor JM Raja Lawrence
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
email: lawrencejmr@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9933250072
