CHAP. 11. CHRIST IS LOVE ILLUSTRATED BY A SIGN Christ’s love for His friends brings about His own death and shews the voluntariness (John 11:8) of His death, as declared John 10:18. Expressions of affection and tenderness abound in the chapter; comp. John 11:3; John 11:5; John 11:11; John 11:15; Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
ἮΝ ΔΈ ΤΙΣ�. Once more we note the touching simplicity of the narrative. The δέ is perhaps ‘but’ rather than ‘now’: it introduces a contrast to what precedes. Christ went into Peraea for retirement, BUT the sickness of Lazarus interrupted it. And thus once more the Lord’s repose is broken. Nicodemus... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRELUDE TO THE SIGN... [ Continue Reading ]
ἮΝ ΔῈ Μ. Ἡ�. NOW MARY WAS SHE _that anointed;_ or, NOW IT WAS (THE) MARY _that anointed_. This of course does not necessarily imply that the anointing had already taken place, as those who identify Mary with the ‘sinner’ of Luke 7:37 would insist: it merely implies that when S. John wrote, this fact... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΈΣΤΕΙΛΑΝ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. This shews that John 11:2 ought not to be made a parenthesis; ‘therefore’ refers to the previous statement. Because of the intimacy, which every one who knew of the anointing would understand, the sisters sent. Note that they are not further described; S. John has said enough to te... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΕΝ. Not ἀπεκρίθη: His words are not a mere answer to the message, but a lesson to the Apostles also. ΟΥ̓Κ ἜΣΤΙΝ ΠΡῸΣ Θ. Is not to have death as its final result: for ‘He Himself knew what He would do’ (John 6:6). Christ foresaw both the death and the resurrection, and (as so often) uttered words... [ Continue Reading ]
ἨΓΆΠΑ. The loss involved here, and still more in John 21:15-17, in translating both ἀγαπᾶν and φιλεῖν by ‘love’ cannot be remedied satisfactorily. Φιλεῖν (_amare_) denotes a passionate, emotional warmth, which loves and does not care to ask why; the affection which is based on natural relationship,... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ἬΚΟΥΣΕΝ. The connexion is a little difficult. Οὖν after the statement in John 11:5 prepares us for a departure instead of a delay: ‘He loved them; when therefore He heard.… He set out immediately.’ But perhaps it means that His love for them made Him delay until the time when His coming wou... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΠΕΙΤΑ Μ. Τ. see on John 3:22. The fulness of this expression emphasizes the length of the delay, so trying to the sisters, and perhaps to Jesus Himself. Winer, p. 754. But His life was a perfect fulfilment of the Preacher’s rule; ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under h... [ Continue Reading ]
ῬΑΒΒΊ, ΝΥ͂Ν Κ.Τ.Λ. RABBI (see on John 4:31) JUST NOW _the Jews_ WERE SEEKING _to stone Thee_ (John 10:31) _and_ art THOU GOING _thither again_? ‘Again’ is emphatic. For νῦν comp. John 21:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΧῚ ΔΏΔΕΚΑ. As so often, Christ gives no direct answer to the question asked, but a general principle, involving the answer to the question. Comp. John 2:6; John 2:19; John 3:5; John 3:10; John 4:13; John 4:21; John 6:32; John 6:53; John 8:7;... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΝΥΚΤΊ. Christ’s night came when His hour came (John 17:1). Then the powers of darkness prevailed (Luke 22:53) and His enemies became a stumbling-block in His path, bringing His work to a close (John 19:30). Τ. ΦΩ͂Σ ΟΥ̓Κ ἜΣΤΙΝ. THE LIGHT IS NOT _in him_. This shews that the meaning has slid... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ. Perhaps indicates a pause. see on John 3:22. Λ. Ὁ ΦΊΛΟΣ ἩΜ. ΚΕΚ. LAZARUS, OUR FRIEND, IS FALLEN ASLEEP. Equal in tender simplicity to the message (John 11:3). Sleep as an image of death is common from the dawn of literature; but the Gospel has raised the expression from a figure to a fa... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΟΝ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ΑΥ̓. ΟἹ Μ. THE DISCIPLES THEREFORE _said to Him;_—catching at any chance of escape from the dreaded journey. They accept it as quite natural that Jesus should _know_ that Lazarus sleeps, and perhaps they think that He has caused the sleep. This slight touch is strong proof of their belie... [ Continue Reading ]
Τ. ΚΟΙΜ. Τ. ὝΠΝ. Recalling κεκοίμηται and ἐξυπνίσω in John 11:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΌΤΕ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. THEN THEREFORE _said Jesus_. Here, as in Romans 6:21, A.V. makes ‘then’ cover both τότε and οὖν, ‘then’ of time, and then’ of consequence. ΠΑΡΡΗΣΊΑΙ. Without metaphor: see on John 7:13. ΛΑΖ. ἈΠΈΘΑΝΕΝ. The abruptness is startling. Contrast the aorist ἀπέθανεν, which indicates the _momen... [ Continue Reading ]
ΧΑΊΡΩ. Christ rejoices, not at His friend’s death, but at His own absence from the scene, for the disciples’ sake. Had He been there, Lazarus would not have died, and the disciples would have lost this great sign of His Messiahship. ἼΝΑ ΠΙΣΤΕΎΣΗΤΕ. S. John’s favourite construction, indicating the Di... [ Continue Reading ]
ΘΩΜΑ͂Σ, Ὁ Λ. Δ. S. John thrice (John 20:24; John 21:2) reminds his readers that Thomas is the same as he whom Gentile Christians called Didymus; just as he interprets Μεσσίας (John 4:25). Thomas is Hebrew, Didymus is Greek, for a twin. In all probability he was a twin, _possibly_ of S. Matthew, with... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕΥ̓͂ΡΕΝ, i.e. on enquiry: comp. John 1:44; John 5:14; John 9:35. It would seem as if Christ’s miraculous power of knowing without the ordinary means of information was not in constant activity, but like His other miraculous powers was employed only on fitting occasions. It was necessary to His work... [ Continue Reading ]
ἮΝ ΔῈ Ἡ Β. ἮΝ. _need_ not imply that when S. John wrote Bethany had been destroyed, but this is the more probable meaning; especially as no other Evangelist speaks of places in the past tense, and S. John does not always do so. The inference is that he wrote after the destruction of Jerusalem; and t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΛΛΟῚ ΔΈ for καὶ πολλοί (A), and ΤῊΝ for τὰς περί (Acts 3); both on overwhelming evidence. 19. ἘΚ ΤΩ͂Ν Ἰ. FROM AMONG _the Jews_. ‘The Jews,’ as usual, are the hostile party: among the numerous acquaintances of the sisters were many of the opponents of Jesus. This visit was yet another opportunity... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἡ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ΜΆΡΘΑ. _Martha_ THEREFORE. As in Luke 10:40, she takes the lead in entertaining, while Mary shrinks from it; and she was probably now engaged in some duty of this kind. As elder sister, and apparently mistress of the house (Luke 10:38), information would naturally come to her first. Without... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ ἊΝ� for ὁ�. μ. οὐκ ἂν ἐτεθνήκει. 21. ΕἸ ἮΣ ὮΔΕ, Κ.Τ.Λ. Not a reproach, however gentle (she does not say ‘hadst Thou _come_’), but an expression of deep regret. This thought had naturally been often in the sisters’ minds during the last four days (comp. John 11:32). They believe that Christ coul... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΝΥ͂Ν ΟἾΔΑ. AND EVEN NOW (that he is dead) _I know_. She believes that had Christ been there, He could have healed Lazarus by His own power (comp. John 4:47), and that now His prayer may prevail with God to raise him from the dead. She has yet to learn that Christ’s bodily presence is not necessa... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΑΣΤΉΣΕΤΑΙ. He uses an ambiguous expression as an exercise of her faith. Some think that these words contain no allusion to the immediate restoration of Lazarus, and that Martha (John 11:24) understands them rightly. More probably Christ includes the immediate restoration of Lazarus, but she does n... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἾΔΑ ὍΤΙ�. This conviction was probably in advance of average Jewish belief on the subject. The O.T. declarations as to a resurrection are so scanty and obscure, that the Sadducees could deny the doctrine, and the Pharisees had to resort to oral tradition to maintain it (see on Mark 12:18; Acts 23:8... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΓΏ ΕἸΜΙ. see on John 6:35. He draws her from her selfish grief to Himself. There is no need for Him to pray as man to God (John 11:22); _He_ (and none else) is the Resurrection and the Life. There is no need to look forward to the last day; He _is_ (not ‘will be’) the Resurrection and the Life. Com... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑ͂Σ. There is no limitation; John 3:15; John 12:46. Comp. John 1:18; John 4:14; John 6:51; John 8:51; John 10:9. For οὐ μὴ�. εἰς τ. αἰῶνα see on John 8:51. Πιστεύεις τοῦτο; is a searching question suddenly put. She answers with confidence and gives the ground for her confidence.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΝΑΊ, ΚΎΡΙΕ. With these words she accepts Christ’s declaration respecting Himself, and then states the creed which has enabled her to accept it. The change from πιστεύω (the natural answer) to ἐγὼ πεπίστευκα is remarkable: I, even I whom thou art questioning, HAVE BELIEVED; i.e. have convinced myself... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΆΘΡΑ. Because of the presence of Christ’s enemies (John 11:19; John 11:31). Λάθρα with εἰποῦσα, rather than with ἐφώνησε (Matthew 1:19; Matthew 2:7; Acts 16:37). Ὁ ΔΙΔΆΣΚΑΛΟΣ. John 1:39; John 13:13-14; John 20:16; John 3:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΑΧΎ. As was natural in one so fond of sitting at His feet. Note the change from aorist to imperfect; the rising was momentary (ἠγέρθη), the coming continuous (ἤρχετο): comp. John 4:27; John 4:30; John 4:40; John 4:47; John 4:50; John 5:9; John 6:1-2; John 6:16-17; John 6:6 [ Continue Reading ]
ἮΝ ἜΤΙ. _Was still in the place_. By remaining outside He could converse with the sisters with less fear of interruption: but the Jews, by following her, interfere with the privacy. See Winer, p. 705.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΛΑΎΣΗΙ. Stronger than δακρύειν (John 11:35): it means TO WALL and cry aloud, not merely shed tears (John 20:11; John 20:13; Matthew 2:18; Matthew 26:75. It is used of Mary Magdalene (John 20:11; John 20:13), Rachel (Matthew 2:18), S. Peter ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΠΕΣΕΝ. Nothing of the kind is told of Martha (John 11:21). Here again the difference of character between the two appears. ΟΥ̓Κ ἌΝ ΜΟΥ�. The same words as those of Martha (John 11:21); but the pronoun is here more prominent, indicating how acutely personal her loss was. No doubt the sisters had ex... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΛΑΊΟΥΣΑΝ … ΚΛΑΊΟΝΤΑΣ. The repetition emphasizes a contrast which is the key to the passage. ἘΝΕΒΡΙΜΉΣΑΤΟ Τ. ΠΝΕΎΜΑΤΙ. _Infremuit spiritu;_ HE WAS ANGERED, or WAS MOVED WITH INDIGNATION _in the spirit_. Ἐμβριμᾶσθαι occurs five times in N.T., here, John 11:38; Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5 (see... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIGN... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΥ͂ ΤΕΘ. ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ; Again He does not use His supernatural powers (John 11:17). With ἔρχου κ. ἴδε contrast John 1:47. On both sides “grief speaks in the fewest possible words.”... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΔΆΚΡΥΣΕΝ. Literally, SHED TEARS: here only in N.T. see on John 13:30. His lamentation was less violent than that of the sisters and their friends (John 11:31; John 11:33). Once it is said of Him that He _wailed aloud_ (ἔκλαυσεν, Luke 19:41); but that was not for the loss of a friend, but for the sp... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΛΕΓΟΝ … ἘΦΊΛΕΙ. Imperfects of continued action. As naturally as the sisters (John 11:3) they use φιλεῖν rather than ἀγαπᾶν (John 11:5). For Ἴδε see on John 1:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΙΝῈΣ ΔῈ ἘΞ ΑΥ̓. BUT _some of them_, in contrast to those who speak in John 11:36, who are not unfriendly, while these sneer. The drift of this remark is ‘He weeps; but why did He not come in time to save His friend? Because He knew that He could not. And if He could not, did he really open the eyes... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΜΒΡΙΜ. ἘΝ ἙΑΥΤΩ͂Ι. This shews that ‘_in_ His spirit,’ not ‘_at_ His spirit,’ is right in John 11:33, to which πάλιν refers. Their sneering scepticism rouses His indignation afresh. It is remarkable that this chapter, which narrates the greatest exhibition of Divine power in the ministry of Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΕΤΕΛΕΥΤΗΚΌΤΟΣ for τεθνηκότος with all the best MSS. 39. ἌΡΑΤΕ Τ. ΛΊΘΟΝ. Comp. τ. λίθον ἠ ρμένον. (John 20:1) not ἀποκεκυλισμένον (Luke 24:2 : comp. Mark 16:4; Matthew 28:2). The command would cause great surprise and excitement. Ἡ�. ΤΕΤΕΛ. Not inserted gratuitously. It was because she was his sist... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΌΝ ΣΟΙ. Apparently a reference to John 11:25-26, and to the reply to the messenger, John 11:4 : on both occasions more may have been said than is reported. See on John 11:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
41. Omit οὖ ἦν ὁ τεθνηκὼς κείμενος (explanatory gloss) after ΛΊΘΟΝ. 41. ἮΡΑΝ ΟΥ̓͂Ν Τ. ΛΊΘΟΝ. Ὁ ΔῈ Ἰ. ἮΡΕΝ Τ. ὈΦΘ. THEY LIFTED THEREFORE _the stone_. BUT _Jesus_ LIFTED UP _His eyes_: comp. John 17:1. ὍΤΙ ἬΚΟΥΣΆΣ ΜΟΥ. _That Thou_ DIDST HEAR _Me_. The prayer to which this refers is not recorded. He... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΓῺ ΔῈ ἬΙΔΕΙΝ. BUT I (whatever doubts others may have had) _knew_. No one must suppose from this act of thanksgiving that there are any prayers of the Son which the Father does not hear. ΔΙᾺ Τ. ὌΧΛΟΝ. Shewing that others were present besides ‘the Jews’ who had come to condole. Εἶπον, _I said_ the w... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΡΑΎΓΑΣΕΝ. The word (rare in N.T. except in this Gospel) is nowhere else used of Christ. It is elsewhere used of the shout of a multitude; John 12:13; John 18:40; John 19:6; John 19:12; John 19:15. Comp. Matthew 12:19; Acts 22:23. This loud cry was perhaps the result of strong emotion, or in order... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΞΗ͂ΛΘΕΝ. It is safest not to regard this as an additional miracle. The winding-sheet may have been loosely tied round him, or each limb may have been swathed separately: in Egyptian mummies sometimes every finger is kept distinct. ΚΕΙΡΊΑΙΣ. The word occurs here only in N.T. Comp. Proverbs 7:16. It... [ Continue Reading ]
45. Omit ὁ Ἰησοῦς after ἘΠΟΊΗΣΕΝ: comp. John 4:16; John 4:46; John 6:14; John 8:21. 45. ΠΟΛΛΟῚ ΟΥ̓͂Ν Κ.Τ.Λ. The Greek is as plain as the English of A. V. is misleading, owing to inaccuracy and bad punctuation. Ἐκ τ. Ἰουδ. means of the Jews generally; of this hostile party ‘many believed;’ and these... [ Continue Reading ]
OPPOSITE RESULTS OF THE SIGN... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΙΝῈΣ ΔῈ ἘΞ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν. Again, of the Jews generally, rather than of those who saw and believed. With what intention they _went_ AWAY _to the Pharisees_, is not clear: possibly to convince them, or to seek an authoritative solution of their own perplexity, or as feeling that the recognised leaders of t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΈΔΡΙΟΝ. They summon _a meeting_ of the Sanhedrin. Even the adversaries of Jesus are being converted, and something decisive must be done. The crisis unites religious opponents. The chief priests, who were mostly Sadducees, act in concert with the Pharisees; jealous ecclesiastics with religious fa... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΛΕΎΣΟΝΤΑΙ ΟἹ ῬΩΜ. An unconscious prophecy (comp. John 11:50; John 7:35; John 19:19) of what their own policy would produce. They do not inquire whether He is or is not the Messiah: they look solely to the consequences of admitting that He is. ἩΜΩ͂Ν Κ. Τ. ΤΌΠΟΝ Κ. Τ. ἜΘΝΟΣ. ‘Ημῶν is very emphatic an... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΪΆΦΑΣ. This was a surname; τοῦ ΛΕΓΟΜΈΝΟΥ Καϊάφα Matthew 26:3 (where see note on the Sanhedrin). His original name was Joseph. Caiaphas is either the Syriac form of Cephas, a ‘rock,’ or (according to another derivation) means ‘depression.’ The high-priesthood had long since ceased to descend from f... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΟΓΊΖΕΣΘΕ (אABDL) for διαλογίζεσθε. The compound is very frequent in the Synoptists. 50. ΣΥΜΦΈΡΕΙ ὙΜΙ͂Ν. _It is expedient for_ YOU half-hearted Pharisees: ὑμῖν corresponds with the contemptuous ὑμεῖς, a point which is spoiled by the inferior reading ἡμῖν. ἽΝΑ ΕἾΣ ἌΝΘ. ἈΠΟΘ. Literally, _in order tha... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΡΟΦΉΤΕΥΣΕΝ for προεφήτευσεν (correction to usual form). In N.T. the better MSS. place the augment before the preposition (Matthew 7:22; Matthew 11:13; Matthew 15:7; Mark 7:6; Luke 1:67; Acts 19:6): Jude 1:14 is possibly an exception. Winer, p. 84. ἬΜΕΛΛΕΝ for ἔμελλεν: comp. John 4:47;... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Χ ὙΠῈΡ Τ. ἜΘΝΟΥΣ ΜΌΝΟΝ. S. John purposely uses the word which describes the Jews merely as one of the nations of the earth distinct from the Gentiles. We are not to understand that Caiaphas had any thought of the gracious meaning contained in his infamous advice. Balaam prophesied unwillingly, Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠ' ἘΚΕΊΝΗΣ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. _From that_ (fatal) _day_ THEREFORE: it was in consequence of Caiaphas’ suggestion that they practically, if not formally, pronounced sentence of death. The question was how to get the sentence carried out.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΜΕΙΝΕΝ (אBL), S. John’s favourite word, is probably to be preferred to διέτριβεν (AD from John 3:22?) 54. Ἰ. ΟΥ̓͂Ν. _Jesus therefore_, because He knew that in raising His friend He had signed His own death-warrant, and that He must wait until His hour was come (John 13:1). For παρρησίᾳ see on John... [ Continue Reading ]
ἮΝ ΔῈ ἘΓΓ. Τ. Π. Τ. Ἰ. NOW THE PASSOVER of THE JEWS. ‘Of the Jews’ is added with full significance: see on John 2:13 and John 6:4. ἽΝΑ ἉΓΝΊΣΩΣΙΝ ἙΑΥ. (Acts 21:24.) Again we have evidence that the Evangelist is a Jew. No purifications are ordered by the Law as a preparation for the Passover. But to... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΖΉΤΟΥΝ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. _They sought_ THEREFORE: because they had come up expecting to see Him, but He remained in retirement. Note the imperfects of continued action. The restless, curiosity of these country-folk, standing talking together in the Temple, whither many of them had come to bring the offerings... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝΤΟΛΆΣ for ἐντολήν, with אBIaM against AD. 57. ΟἹ�. ΟἹ Φ. see on John 7:32. The verse explains why the people doubted His coming to the Feast. Note that once more the Sadducean hierarchy takes the lead. Comp. John 11:47; John 12:10; John 18:3; John 18:35; John 19:6; John 19:15; John 19:21. In the h... [ Continue Reading ]