Bible Commentaries

Joh 11:1-46.

LAZARUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD--THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS.

1. of Bethany--at the east side of Mount Olivet.

the town of Mary and her sister Martha--thus distinguishing it from the other Bethany, "beyond Jordan." (See on

Joh 1:28;

Joh 10:40).

2. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, &c.--This, though not recorded by our Evangelist till

Joh 12:3,

was so well known in the teaching of all the churches, according to our Lord's prediction

(Mt 26:13),

that it is here alluded to by anticipation, as the most natural way of identifying her; and she is first named, though the younger, as the more distinguished of the two. She "anointed THE LORD," says the Evangelist--led doubtless to the use of this term here, as he was about to exhibit Him illustriously as the Lord of Life.

3-5. his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick--a most womanly appeal, yet how reverential, to the known affection of her Lord for the patient. (See

Joh 11:5, 11).

"Those whom Christ loves are no more exempt than others from their share of earthly trouble and anguish: rather are they bound over to it more surely" [TRENCH].

4. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death--to result in death.

but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby--that is, by this glory of God. (See Greek.) Remarkable language this, which from creature lips would have been intolerable. It means that the glory of GOD manifested in the resurrection of dead Lazarus would be shown to be the glory, personally and immediately, of THE SON.

5. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus--what a picture!--one that in every age has attracted the admiration of the whole Christian Church. No wonder that those miserable skeptics who have carped at the ethical system of the Gospel, as not embracing private friendships in the list of its virtues, have been referred to the Saviour's peculiar regard for this family as a triumphant refutation, if such were needed.

6. When he heard he was sick, he abode two days still . . . where he was--at least twenty-five miles off. Beyond all doubt this was just to let things come to their worst, in order to display His glory. But how trying, meantime, to the faith of his friends, and how unlike the way in which love to a dying friend usually shows itself, on which it is plain that Mary reckoned. But the ways of divine are not as the ways of human love. Often they are the reverse. When His people are sick, in body or spirit; when their case is waxing more and more desperate every day; when all hope of recovery is about to expire--just then and therefore it is that "He abides two days still in the same place where He is." Can they still hope against hope? Often they do not; but "this is their infirmity." For it is His chosen style of acting. We have been well taught it, and should not now have the lesson to learn. From the days of Moses was it given sublimely forth as the character of His grandest interpositions, that "the Lord will judge His people and repent Himself for His servants"--when He seeth that their power is gone

(De 32:36).

7-10. Let us go into Judea again--He was now in Perea, "beyond Jordan."

8. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought, &c.--literally, "were (just) now seeking" "to stone thee"

(Joh 10:31).

goest thou thither again?--to certain death, as

Joh 11:16

shows they thought.