Jesus was more than a two days' journey from Jerusalem, where envious religious leaders had previously tried to stone Him.  Jesus and His trainee apostles slipped away from them and walked for two days to the baptism site on the River Jordan to the place where John had baptised Jesus some two years previously.  It was a quiet place for reflection.  But soon they were joined by many people who were hungry for His ministry and believed in Him (John 10:40-42).  

During that time, Jesus received a message from his friends Mary and Martha in Bethany (a village about two miles from Jerusalem) saying that their brother, Lazarus, was very ill.  Indeed, Lazarus probably died about the same time that the message arrived.  But Jesus spoke confidently to His disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4), and then continued teaching the crowds.   

Then, two days later, He told His disciples to get ready to go back to the area around Jerusalem; an idea that they thought was foolish and irresponsible and probably feared for their own lives.  But Jesus taught the disciples that they were safe while the Light was with them.  They should not be afraid to follow Him, even into dangerous areas.  It is the people who walk in the dark and reject the Light who would always stumble and fall (John 12:35).  Jesus knew nobody could ultimately succeed against Him (Proverbs 21:30); and there was enough time to do everything His Father commanded Him. He was never in a hurry and He always met the Divine deadlines to complete His mission. This was essential training to be apostles under persecution, when the task was so great and the time seemed so short.
 
The Lord always knows what He is doing, even if it may seem foolish or dangerous to us.  It was a lesson the trainee apostles needed to learn before they started to lead the church.  Safety does not depend on our location or the absence of danger.  It is God alone who keeps us safe and will do so through whatever means He chooses.  It may seem that He sometimes asks us to risk everything but, at the same time, we know that in Christ we are fully protected.  So do not be frightened or discouraged from following Jesus.  Nothing and nobody can succeed against you when the Lord is with you!