1._And one named Lazarus was sick. _The Evangelist passes on to another narrative, which contains a miracle eminently worthy of being recorded. For not only did Christ give a remarkable proof of his Divine power in raising Lazarus, but he likewise placed before our eyes a lively image of our future... [ Continue Reading ]
2._It was that Mary who anointed the Lord. _It is a similar display of ignorance, to imagine that this _Mary_, _the sister of Lazarus_, was that woman of wicked and infamous life, who is mentioned by Luke, (Luke 7:37.) This mistake was occasioned by the _anointing_; as if it were not evident enough... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Lo, he whom thou lovest is sick. _The message is short, but Christ might easily learn from it what the two sisters wished; for, under this complaint, they modestly state their request that he would be pleased to grant them relief. We are not forbidden, indeed, to use a longer form of prayer; but... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Now Jesus, having heard this, said, This sickness is not to death. _He intended by this reply to free his disciples from anxiety, that they might not take it amiss, when they saw him giving himself so little concern about the danger of his friend. That they might not be alarmed, therefore, about... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. _These two things appear to be inconsistent with each other, that Christ _remains two days _beyond Jordan, as if he did not care about the life of Lazarus, and yet the Evangelist says, that Christ _loved him and his sisters_; for, since _love _p... [ Continue Reading ]
7._And after this, he saith to his disciples. _At length he now shows that he cared about Lazarus, though the disciples thought that he had forgotten him, or, at least, that there were other matters which he reckoned of more importance than the life of Lazarus. He therefore enjoins them to cross the... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Rabbi, the Jews but lately sought to stone thee. _When the disciples dissuade him from going, they do so, not so much perhaps on his account as on their own, for each of them is alarmed about himself, as the danger was common to all. Avoiding the cross, and being ashamed to own it, they allege —... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Are there not twelve hours in the day? _This passage has been explained in various ways. Some have thought the meaning of these words to be, that men sometimes adopt a new and different resolution every hour. This is very far from Christ’s meaning; and indeed I would not have reckoned it worthy o... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Our friend Lazarus sleepeth. _Having formerly asserted that the disease was not deadly, that his disciples may not be too much distressed at seeing what they did not expect, he now informs them also that Lazarus is dead, and excites a hope of his resurrection. It is a proof of amazing ignorance,... [ Continue Reading ]
12._If he sleepeth, he will recover. _(313) Replying that _sleep _will have a salutary effect on Lazarus, they thus endeavor indirectly to dissuade Christ from going thither. And yet they do not craftily or deceitfully turn aside Christ’s words to suit their own purpose, on the pretense of not under... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus is dead. _The goodness of Christ was astonishing, in being able to bear with such gross ignorance in the disciples. And indeed the reason why he delayed, for a time, to bestow upon them the grace of the Spirit in larger measure, was, that the miracle of rene... [ Continue Reading ]
15._And I rejoice, on your account, that I was not there. _He means that his absence was profitable to them, because his power would have been less illustriously displayed, if he had instantly given assistance to Lazarus. For the more nearly the works of God approach to the ordinary course of nature... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Then Thomas. _Hitherto the disciples had endeavored to hinder Christ from going. _Thomas _is now prepared to follow, but it is without confidence; or, at least, he does not fortify himself by the promise of Christ, so as to follow hint with cheerfulness and composure. _Let us go, that we may die... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Now Bethany was near Jerusalem. _The Evangelist diligently follows out all that contributes to the certainty of the narrative. He relates how _near Jerusalem was to the village of Bethany_, that no one may be astonished that, for the purpose of comforting the sisters, many friends came from Jeru... [ Continue Reading ]
19._To comfort them concerning their brother. _This was, no doubt, the object which they had in view, but God had another object to accomplish, as we have stated. It is evident from what is here mentioned, that the house of Lazarus and his sisters was greatly respected and honored. Again, as it is n... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Martha having heard that Jesus was coming. Martha _travels beyond the village, as we shall afterwards see, not only perhaps on account of the reverence which she bore to Christ, but that she might meet him more secretly; for his danger was fresh in his recollection, and the rage of enemies had n... [ Continue Reading ]
21._Lord, if thou hadst been here. _She begins with a complaint, though in doing so she modestly expresses her wish. Her meaning may be expressed thus — “By thy presence thou mightst have delivered my brother from death, and even now thou canst do it, for God will not refuse thee any thing.” By spea... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Thy brother shall rise again. _The kindness of Christ is amazing, in forgiving those faults of Martha which we have mentioned, and in promising her, of his own accord, more than she had ventured plainly and directly to ask.... [ Continue Reading ]
24._I know that he shall rise again. _We now see Martha’s excessive timidity in extenuating the meaning of Christ’s words. We have said that she went farther than she had a right to do, when she fabricated a hope for herself out of the feelings of her own mind. She now falls into an opposite fault;... [ Continue Reading ]
25._I am the resurrection and the life. _Christ first declares that _he is the resurrection and the life_, and then he explains, separately and distinctly, each clause of this sentence. His first statement is, that _he is the resurrection_, because the restoration from death to life naturally comes... [ Continue Reading ]
26._And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me. _This is the exposition of the second clause, how _Christ is the life_; and he is so, because he never permits _the life _which he has once bestowed to be lost, but preserves it to the end. For since flesh is so frail, what would become of men, if, afte... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Yes, Lord. _To prove that she believes what she had heard Christ say about himself, that _he is the resurrection and the life_, Martha replies, that _she believes that he is the Christ, and the Son of God_; and indeed this knowledge includes the sum of all blessings; for we ought always to remem... [ Continue Reading ]
28._And called Mary, her sister. _It was probably at the request of Martha, that Christ remained on the outside of the village, that he might not enter into so great an assembly of people; for she dreaded the danger, because Christ had but lately escaped with difficulty from instant death. According... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Then the Jews who were with her. _Though Martha was permitted by Christ to return home for the purpose of withdrawing her sister from the numerous assembly, yet Christ had another design in view, which was, that the Jews might be witnesses of the miracle. True, they have no thought of it, but it... [ Continue Reading ]
32._She fell at his feet. _From her _falling down at his feet _we learn that Christ was honored in that house beyond the ordinary custom of men. For, though it was customary to throw themselves down on the ground in the presence of kings and great men, yet as Christ had nothing about him, according... [ Continue Reading ]
33._He groaned in his spirit. _If Christ had not been excited to compassion by their tears, he would rather have kept his countenance unmoved, but when, of his own accord, he conforms to those mourners, so far as to weep along with them, (323) he gives proof that he has sympathy, ( συμπάθεια.) For t... [ Continue Reading ]
36._Behold, how he loved him! _The Evangelist John here describes to us two different opinions which were formed about Christ. As to the former, who said, _Behold, how he loved him! _though they think less highly of Christ than they ought to have done, since they ascribe to him nothing but what may... [ Continue Reading ]
38._Jesus therefore again groaning within himself. _Christ does not approach the sepulcher as an idle spectator, but as a champion who prepares for a contest; and therefore we need not wonder that he _again groans_; for the violent tyranny of death, which he had to conquer, is placed before his eyes... [ Continue Reading ]
39._Lord, he already stinketh. _This is an indication of distrust, for she promises herself less from the power of Christ than she ought to have done. The root of the evil consists in measuring the infinite and incomprehensible power of God by the perception of her flesh. There being nothing more in... [ Continue Reading ]
40._Did not I tell thee? _He reproves Martha’s distrust, in not forming a hope sufficiently vigorous from the promise which she had heard. It is evident from this passage, that something more was said to Martha than John has literally related; though, as I have suggested, this very thing was meant b... [ Continue Reading ]
41._And Jesus again raised his eyes. _This was the token of a mind truly prepared for prayer; for before any one calls on God aright, he must be brought into communication with him, and this can only be done when, raised above the earth, he ascends even to heaven. True, this is not done by the eyes;... [ Continue Reading ]
42._And I knew that thou hearest me always. _This is an anticipation, lest any one should think that he did not stand so high in favor with _the Father_, as to be able easily to perform as many miracles as he chose. He means, therefore, that there is so great an agreement between him and the Father,... [ Continue Reading ]
43._He cried with a loud voice. _By not touching with the hand, but only _crying with the voice_, his Divine power is more fully demonstrated. At the same time, he holds out to our view the secret and astonishing efficacy of his word. For how did Christ restore life to the dead but by the word? And... [ Continue Reading ]
44._Bound hand and foot with bandages. _The Evangelist is careful to mention the_napkin _and _bandages, _in order to inform us that Lazarus went out of the tomb, in the same manner that he was laid in it. This mode of burying is retained to the present day by the Jews, who cover the body with a shro... [ Continue Reading ]
45._Many therefore of the Jews believed on him. _Christ did not permit the miracle which he had wrought to be without fruit, for by means of it he drew some persons to the faith. For we ought to understand that miracles have a twofold use. They are intended either to prepare us for faith, or to conf... [ Continue Reading ]
46._But some of them went away to the Pharisees. _In those who accuse Christ we behold detestable ingratitude, or rather horrible rage, from which we infer how blind and mad is their impiety. The resurrection of Lazarus ought undoubtedly to have softened even hearts of stone; but there is no work of... [ Continue Reading ]
47._Then the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled the council. _Not less monstrous is the blindness of _the priests_, which is here described. If they had not been exceedingly stupid and brutish, they would at least have been impressed with some reverence for Christ, after so striking a demonst... [ Continue Reading ]
48._If we let him alone thus. _What if they do not _let him alone _? In that case, as we have already said, they are fully convinced that it lies in their power to block up Christ’s path, so that he shall go no farther, provided that they earnestly strive against him. If Christ had been some imposto... [ Continue Reading ]
49._Then one of them, named Caiaphas. _It was a short consultation, for _Caiaphas _did not allow them to hesitate long. He holds out that there is but one way of purchasing safety, and that is, to slay an innocent man. To what a pitch of wickedness do men proceed, who, destitute of the fear of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
51._Now he spoke this, not of himself. _When the Evangelist says that Caiaphas _did not speak this of himself_, he does not mean that Caiaphas — like one who was mad, or out of his senses — uttered what he did not understand; for he spoke what was his own opinion. But the Evangelist means that a hig... [ Continue Reading ]
52._And not for that nation only. _The Evangelist means that the reconciliation effected by Christ is also extended to the Gentiles. But how comes it that they who, in consequence of being wretchedly scattered and wandering, became the enemies of God, are here called _the children of God _? I answer... [ Continue Reading ]
53._They consulted to put him to death. _The Evangelist relates that Christ again fled, knowing that his enemies sought him with so great rage. Yet let us remember that he did not fly in order to withdraw from his Father’s calling; for he had no other intention than to present himself to undergo vol... [ Continue Reading ]
54._Which is called Ephraim. _As to the name of the town which is mentioned here, I think that either it was pronounced at that time in a corrupted manner, or it was entirely new. For we know how greatly the language was changed after the captivity into Babylon, and likewise how different was the ap... [ Continue Reading ]
55._Many from that country went up to Jerusalem. _It was not absolutely enjoined that they should _purify themselves before sacrificing the passover; _and, therefore, the Evangelist does not say that _all _came, but _many _No unclean person, indeed, was permitted to eat; but I say that this sanctifi... [ Continue Reading ]
56._They therefore sought Jesus. _The design of the Evangelist is, to show how extensively the fame of Christ was diffused through the whole of Judea; for they who assemble in the temple, from whatever quarter they come, are eager to seek Christ, and are employed in holding conversations among thems... [ Continue Reading ]