John 11:3

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 tell his readers who are meant: but would not a forger have introduced them with more description?

κύριε, ἴδε δν φ. ἀσθ. Exquisite in its tender simplicity. The message implies a belief that Christ could cure a dangerous sickness, and no doubt (John 11:21; John 11:32) would heal His friend. Sufficit ut noveris. Non enim amas et deseris (S. Augustine). Thus of the seven typical miracles with which S. John illustrates the Lord’s ministry, the last, like the first, has its scene in the family circle. Like His Mother (John 2:3), the sisters state the trouble, and leave the rest to Him: and here, as there, He at first seems to refuse what He afterwards grants in abundance. On ἴδε see on John 1:29; on φιλεῖς John 11:5; John 5:20.