John 8: 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life….59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
After the lengthy discussion with the Pharisees that began with Jesus declaring that He was the light of the world. He had explained salvation but in their darkened minds and heart they could not understand and they wanted to stone Him.
John 9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
He has been telling His disciples that He was the light of the world. He needed them to understand that He was the light that shined down into their own hearts that first of all made them aware of the darkness that was their. The light of perfect righteousness that first of all made them aware of their covetous, degenerate dark hearts so that He who would die to pay the penalty of their sins could be their Savior. He was the light that would guide them every step of their way through their Christian journey. He was the light that would guide them, transform them, and fill them so they could be the light to the world (His own light shining through them.)
John 11 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 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.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
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 fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
When Lazarus had died and Christ was getting ready to go to demonstrate the very purpose of His coming, the resurrection. He needed His followers to understand what was His Ultimate Purpose and since they were a slow bunch to grasp this (so much like every one of us) He was about to demonstrate it to them on this earth that they might begin to grasp the significance of His own death on the cross and the concept of resurrection. They became frightened because they were traveling back to the very spot where He had first declared that He was the light of the world, the very place where the Pharisees had wanted to stone Him. Look at His answer when they questioned Him about going there…."if any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world" He was going with them, He was the light and He was about to demonstrate to them His power. Their response is much like ours, "Ok, let’s go and die with him. They will stone him and we will all die" No enthusiasm, no faith that He was with them, and no evidence of hope or joy. Are you walking with the light of the world? Then what have you to fear. Let us all like Paul, (Philippians 2: 15 .. be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.