_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 ]