John 11:11-18. Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus has "fallen asleep" and they must go to Judea so Jesus can awaken him. The disciples are confused so Jesus explains that Lazarus is dead "and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe." Thomas says to his fellow disciples "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Jesus knows that he's going to raise Lazarus from the dead. For his disciples' sake, he is glad that he wasn't with Lazarus before he died since now his disciples will get to see Jesus's power over death. Jesus knows that his own death is coming soon, in fact that is why his disciples do not want to return to Judea because they know the Jews can get to Jesus there. Jesus wants them to remember this miracle when they see him die. I wonder if they did? It doesn't seem so, or at least it seems like they did not fully understand what happened when Lazarus was raised, since they were all so scared and huddled in the upper room after Jesus' death. But, Jesus had told them that he would rise again on the third day, and now they had seen that happen to another person. So maybe they did understand, but they were still scared, which would be understandable. Maybe they just felt safer waiting in the upper room for what was going to happen. Or maybe it was a little of both.

When I put myself in their shoes I think a few years ago I would have been scared and waiting. Now, I think (or maybe I just hope) that I trust him more. I would not be scared, just excited to see what happened next, although I would have been very sad at the way he was killed. I feel that way about our current times, I am not at all scared, but I'm very excited to see what is coming (I do have, though great sadness for what others are suffering through).

Also, Thomas convinces the other disciples to go with Jesus and to die with him in Judea. How brave Thomas was! For all his doubting and needing to see Jesus' wounds, he was the only one who left the upper room. He was clearly not afraid of death!