A CERTAIN MAN WAS SICK - The resurrection of Lazarus has been recorded only by John. Various reasons have been conjectured why the other evangelists did not mention so signal a miracle. The most probable is, that at the time they wrote Lazarus was still living. The miracle was well known, and yet to... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS THAT MARY ... - See the Matthew 26:6 note; Luke 7:36 notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM THOU LOVEST - John 11:5. The members of this family were among the few special and intimate friends of our Lord. He was much with them, and showed them marks of special friendship Luke 10:38, and they bestowed upon him special proofs of affection in return. This shows that special attachments a... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH - The word “death” here is equivalent to remaining under death, Romans 6:23. “The wages of sin is death” - permanent or unchanging death, opposed to eternal life. Jesus evidently did not intend to deny that he would die. The words which he immediately adds show that h... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ABODE TWO DAYS - Probably Lazarus died soon after the messengers left him. Jesus knew that (John 11:11), and did not hasten to Judea, but remained two days longer where he was, that there might not be the possibility of doubt that he was dead, so that when he came there he had been dead four days... [ Continue Reading ]
OF LATE - About four months before, John 10:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE HOURS - The Jews divided the day from sunrise to sunset into twelve equal parts. A similar illustration our Saviour uses in John 9:4. See the notes at that place. IF ANY MAN WALK - If any man travels. The illustration here is taken from a traveler. The conversation was respecting a journey i... [ Continue Reading ]
LAZARUS SLEEPETH - Is dead. The word “sleep” is applied to death, * Because of the resemblance between them, as sleep is the “kinsman of death.” In this sense it is often used by pagan writers. * However, in the Scriptures it is used to intimate that death will not be final: that there will be a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE SLEEP, HE SHALL DO WELL - Sleep was regarded by the Jews, in sickness, as a favorable symptom; hence it was said among them, “Sleep in sickness is a sign of recovery, because it shows that the violence of the disease has abated” (Lightfoot). This seems to have been the meaning of the disciple... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM GLAD ... - The meaning of this verse may be thus expressed: “If I had been there during his sickness, the entreaties of his sisters and friends would have prevailed with me to restore him to health. I could not have refused them without appearing to be unkind. Though a restoration to health wou... [ Continue Reading ]
THOMAS, WHICH IS CALLED DIDYMUS - These names express the same thing. One is Hebrew and the other Greek. The name means a twin. DIE WITH HIM - It has been much doubted by critics whether the word him refers to Lazarus or to Jesus. They who refer it to Lazarus suppose this to be the meaning: “Let us... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE GRAVE - It was sometimes the custom to embalm the dead, but in this case it does not seem to have been done. He was probably buried soon after death.... [ Continue Reading ]
NIGH UNTO JERUSALEM - This is added to show that it was easy for many of the Jews to come to the place. The news that Jesus was there, and the account of the miracle, would also be easily carried to the Sanhedrin. FIFTEEN FURLONGS - Nearly two miles. It was directly east from Jerusalem. Dr. Thomson... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY OF THE JEWS - Probably their distant relatives or their friends. TO COMFORT - These visits of consolation were commonly extended to seven clays (Grotius; Lightfoot).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN MARTHA ... - To Martha was intrusted the management of the affairs of the family, Luke 10:40. It is probable that she first heard of his coming, and, without waiting to inform her sister, went immediately out to meet him. See John 11:28. SAT STILL IN THE HOUSE - The word “still” is not in the o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER THOU WILT ASK OF GOD - Whatever is necessary to our consolation that thou wilt ask, thou canst obtain. It is possible that she meant gently to intimate that he could raise him up and restore him again to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
THY BROTHER SHALL RISE AGAIN - Martha had spoken of the power of Jesus. He said nothing of himself in reply. It was not customary for him to speak of himself, unless it was demanded by necessity. It cannot be doubted that by rising again, here, Jesus referred to the act which he was about to perform... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE LAST DAY - The day of judgment. Of this Martha was fully convinced; but this was not all which she desired. She in this manner delicately hinted what she did not presume expressly to declare her wish that Jesus might even now raise him up.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE RESURRECTION - I am the author or the cause of the resurrection. It so depends on my power and will, that it may be said that I am the resurrection itself. This is a most expressive way of saying that the whole doctrine of the resurrection came from him, and the whole power to effect it was... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER LIVETH - He had just spoken of the prospects of the pious dead. He now says that the same prospects are before the living who have like faith. Greek, “Every one living and believing on me.” SHALL NEVER DIE - As the dead, though dead, shall yet live, so the living shall have the same kind... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, LORD - This was a noble confession. It showed her full confidence in him as the Messiah, and her full belief that all that he said was true. See Matthew 16:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE WENT HER WAY - Jesus probably directed her to go, though the evangelist has not recorded it, for she said to Mary, The Master calleth for thee. SECRETLY - Privately. So that the others did not hear her. This was done, perhaps, to avoid confusion, or because it was probable that if they knew Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, SHE GOETH UNTO THE GRAVE - Syriac, “They thought that she went to weep.” They had not heard Martha call her. The first days of mourning among the Jews were observed with great solemnity and many ceremonies of grief.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GROANED IN THE SPIRIT - The word rendered “groaned,” here, commonly denotes to be angry or indignant, or to reprove severely, denoting violent agitation of mind. Here it also evidently denotes violent agitation - not from anger, but from grief. He saw the sorrow of others, and he was also moved w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE HAVE YE LAID HIM? - Jesus spoke as a man. In all this transaction he manifested the deep sympathies of a man; and though he who could raise the dead man up could also know where he was, yet he chose to lead them to the grave by inducing them to point the way, and hence, he asked this question.... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS WEPT - It has been remarked that this is the shortest verse in the Bible; but it is exceedingly important and tender. It shows the Lord Jesus as a friend, a tender friend, and evinces his character as a man. And from this we learn: * That the most tender personal friendship is not inconsiste... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS A CAVE - This was a common mode of burial. See the notes at Matthew 8:28. A STONE LAY UPON IT - Over the mouth of the cave. See Matthew 27:60.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR DAYS - This proves that there could be no deception, for it could not have been a case of suspended animation. All these circumstances are mentioned to show that there was no imposture. Impostors do not mention minute circumstances like these. They deal in generals only. Every part of this narr... [ Continue Reading ]
SAID I NOT UNTO THEE - This was implied in what he had said about the resurrection of her brother, John 11:23. There would be a manifestation of the glory of God in raising him up which she would be permitted, with all others, to behold. THE GLORY OF GOD - The power and goodness displayed in the re... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFTED UP HIS EYES - In an attitude of prayer. See Luke 18:13; Matthew 14:19. I THANK THEE THAT THOU HAST HEARD ME - It is possible that John has recorded only the sum or substance of the prayer on this occasion. The thanks which Jesus renders here are evidently in view of the fact that power had b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I KNEW - “As for me. So far as I am concerned. I had no anxiety, no doubt as to myself, that I should always be heard; but the particular ground of gratitude is the benefit that will result to those who are witnesses.” Jesus never prayed in vain. He never attempted to work a miracle in vain; and... [ Continue Reading ]
A LOUD VOICE - Greek, “A great voice.” Syriac: “A high voice.” This was distinctly asserting his power. He uttered a distinct, audible voice, that there might be no suspicion of charm or incantation. The ancient magicians and jugglers performed their wonders by whispering and muttering. See the note... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT WAS DEAD - The same man, body and soul. BOUND HAND AND FOOT - It is not certain whether the whole body and limbs were bound together, or each limb separately. When they embalmed a person, the whole body and limbs were swathed or bound together by strips of linen, involved around it to keep t... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME OF THEM ... - We see here the different effect which the word and works of God will have on different individuals. Some are converted and others are hardened; yet the evidence of this miracle was as clear to the one as the other. But they would not be convinced.... [ Continue Reading ]
A COUNCIL - A meeting of the Sanhedrin, or Great Council of the nation. See the notes at Matthew 2:4. They claimed the right of regulating all the affairs of religion. See the notes at John 1:19. WHAT DO WE? - What measures are we taking to arrest the progress of his sentiments? FOR THIS MAN DOETH... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MEN - That is, all men among the Jews. The whole nation. AND THE ROMANS SHALL COME - They were then subject to the Romans - tributary and dependent. Whatever privileges they had they held at the will of the Roman emperor. They believed, or feigned to believe, that Jesus was intending to set up... [ Continue Reading ]
CAIAPHAS - See the notes at Luke 3:2. BEING HIGH-PRIEST THAT SAME YEAR - It is probable that the office of high priest was at first for life, if there was no conduct that rendered the person unworthy the office. In that case the incumbent was removed. Thus Abiathar was removed by Solomon, 1 Kings 2... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR US - It is better for us. Literally, “It is profitable for us.” THAT ONE MAN SHOULD DIE - Jesus they regarded as promoting sedition, and as exposing the nation, if he was successful, to the vengeance of the Romans, John 11:48. If he was put to death they supposed the people would... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF HIMSELF - Though he uttered what proved to be a true prophecy, yet it was accomplished in a way which he did not intend He had a wicked design. He was plotting murder and crime. Yet, wicked as he was, and little as he intended it, God so ordered it that he delivered a most precious truth resp... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE - All his chosen among the Jews and Gentiles. See John 10:16. THE CHILDREN OF GOD - This is spoken not of those who were then Christians, but of all whom God should bring to him; all who would be, in the mercy of God, called, chosen, sanctified among all nations, John... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY TOOK COUNSEL - The judgment of the high priest silenced opposition, and they began to devise measures to put him to death without exciting tumult among the people. Compare Matthew 26:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MORE OPENLY - No more publicly, in the cities and towns. Jesus never exposed his life unnecessarily to hazard. Although the time of his death was determined in the counsel of God, yet this did not prevent his using proper means to preserve his life. THE WILDERNESS - See the notes at Matthew 3:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
JEWS’ PASSOVER - See the notes at Matthew 26:2. Its being called the Jews’ Passover shows that John wrote this gospel among people who were not Jews, and to whom it was necessary, therefore, to explain their customs. TO PURIFY THEMSELVES - This purifying consisted in preparing themselves for the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL NOT COME TO THE FEAST? - They doubted whether he would come. On the one hand, it was required by law that all males should come. On the other, his coming was attended with great danger. This was the cause of their doubting. It was in this situation that our Saviour, like many of his followers,... [ Continue Reading ]