_Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus_ While Jesus was on the
other side of Jordan, whither he had retired when he left Jerusalem, a
particular friend of his, called Lazarus, fell sick of a very
dangerous disorder, at the village of Bethany, near Jerusalem. _The
town of Mary, and Martha, Lazaru... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore his sisters_ Observing his sickness was of a dangerous
kind, and therefore being full of concern for him, knowing where Jesus
was, thought proper to send him word of it; for they firmly expected
that he, who had cured so many strangers, would willingly come and
give health to one whom he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then after that_ Namely, on the third day; _he saith, Let us go into
Judea again_ When the proper time for setting out for Bethany was
come, Jesus desired his disciples to accompany him into Judea. But
they expressed some unwillingness to undertake the journey; not
imagining that it was proposed on... [ Continue Reading ]
_These things said he_ To silence their objections, and prepare their
minds for what he yet concealed; and after that, as he perfectly knew
what had passed at Bethany, though so many miles distant from it, _he
saith, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth_ This, it is probable, he spoke
just when he died. _Sle... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jesus plainly_ That he might not hold them any longer in
suspense, or permit them to remain under a mistake; _Lazarus is_
indeed _dead: and_ As I could not have permitted this to have happened
in my presence, _I am glad for your sakes_ That your faith may be more
fully confirmed, by a fur... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jesus came, he found_ When Jesus and his disciples were come
nigh to Bethany, they were told by some of the inhabitants, whom, it
seems, they met accidentally, that Lazarus had been buried four days.
Therefore, as a day or two must have been spent in making preparation
for the burial, he could... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Martha_, &c. Jesus was no sooner come into the neighbourhood,
but presently the news of his approach was brought to the afflicted
family, that had so long impatiently desired to see him. Martha,
therefore, immediately went out; _and_, being told what way he was
coming, soon _met him: but Mary... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus_ Beholding her distress with a compassionate concern; _saith
unto her, Thy brother shall rise again_ Martha, in her complaint,
looked back, reflecting with regret that Christ had not come before
her brother's death, and thinking, if he had, her brother would have
been now alive. And we are ve... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus said, I am the resurrection_ The author and cause of the
resurrection of the dead; _and the life_ The source of life, natural,
spiritual, and eternal; of the living, both in the present world and
in the world to come. Martha believed that in answer to his prayer God
would give any thing; but... [ Continue Reading ]
_And whosoever liveth_ That Isaiah, 1 st, A natural life; whosoever
lives in this world, whether he be Jew or Gentile, and wherever, in
whatever country or age he lives; _and believeth_ That is, believeth
while he liveth in this world, while he is here, in this state of
probation; for, after death,... [ Continue Reading ]
_She saith, Yea, Lord_ I am fully persuaded of the truth of thy
declaration; for _I believe that thou art the Christ_, &c. Here we
have Martha's good confession, the same with that for which Peter was
commended, Matthew 16:16, where see the notes. Dr. Campbell reads, _I
believe that thou art the Mes... [ Continue Reading ]
_When she had so said_ When she had testified her faith, as in the
preceding verse; _she went and called Mary_ Jesus having inquired for
her, as is implied in the next words, designing that she and her
companions should likewise have the honour and comfort of being
present at the stupendous miracle... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him_ They seem to wonder he
should have so strong an affection for one to whom he was not related,
and with whom he had not had a long acquaintance, having spent most of
his time in Galilee, at a great distance from Bethany. It becomes us,
according to this e... [ Continue Reading ]
_It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it_ Or, as Dr. Campbell reads,
_shut up with a stone._ The graves of the common people probably were
digged like ours, but persons of distinction were, as with us,
interred in vaults. So Lazarus was; and such was the sepulchre in
which Christ was buried. See note... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they took away the stone_ As Jesus had directed; _from the place
where the dead was laid_ From the mouth of the tomb. _And Jesus lifted
up his eyes_, &c. To show them who stood by, and viewed him as a mere
man, from whence he derived his power; and that he did not do his
miracles by any abilit... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he that was dead_ Greek, ο τεθνη κως, _he that had been
dead; came forth_ “The dead man heard the voice of the Son of God,
and came forth immediately. For he did not revive slowly, and by
degrees, as the dead child did which was raised by the Prophet Elisha;
but the effect instantly following t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then many of the Jews, which came with Mary_ And were eye-witnesses
of this illustrious miracle; _believed on him_ As the Messiah. Indeed,
so incontestable a proof of his power and authority left them no room
to doubt of his character. They knew that no impostor could perform
any miracle; and so gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then gathered the chief priests_, &c. “The account which these men
gave of Lazarus's resurrection, raised the indignation of the rulers
to the highest pitch. They called a council forthwith, and after
consultation blamed one another for having suffered Jesus to go so
long unpunished. But this mirac... [ Continue Reading ]
_One of them, named Caiaphas_, &c. While some of the council seemed
apprehensive of the danger of attempting any thing against Jesus, and,
as is probable from John 12:42, urged the unlawfulness of what was
proposed to be done, from the consideration of Christ's innocence and
miracles, Caiaphas, who,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then, from that day, they took counsel_, &c. The majority of the
council having resolved to put Jesus to death at all hazards, they
consulted no longer upon that point, but from henceforth deliberated
only concerning the best method of effecting it. _Jesus therefore
walked no more openly_, &c. Henc... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ Soon after this; _the Jews' passover was nigh_ The last passover
that Christ attended; _and many_ From all parts of the country; _went
up to Jerusalem_ Some little time before the commencement of the
feast; _to purify themselves_ By certain preparatory sacrifices and
ceremonies, that they migh... [ Continue Reading ]