He tarries two days before he sets out for Judea. 241 SECT. the glory of God, but shall serve for the remarkable illustration of that the Son of God the glory of God, and is suffered to prevail, cxxxix. might be glorified chiefly with a design that the Son of God may be glorified by it, and his Divine mission most xi. 4 signally confirmed. thereby. 5 Now Jesus lov- Now it was well known that Jesus loved Mar- 5 ed Martha, and her tha, and her sister Mary, and this their brother sister, and Lazarus. Lazarus, with a peculiar affection, and had often visited them, and lodged at their house; and, in consequence of this, he was determined to order the affair in such a manner as he knew would be most for their final advantage, though it might for a while be an occasion of greater affliction. two days still in the 6 When he had When therefore he had heard that he was sick, 6 heard therefore that he then, without declaring he had any thought he was sick, he abode of going to him, abode yet two days longer on same place where the other side Jordan, in the same place where he was before. And then after that, that is, 7 7 Then after that, on the third day, he says to his disciples, Let us back again to Judea. he was. now into go saith he to his disciples, Let us go Judea again. The disciples say unto him, Rabbi, it is but 8 8 His disciples just now that the Jews sought to stone thee, say unto him, Master, the Jews of late (John x. 31, sect. cxxxiv.) and dost thou intend sought to stone thee: so soon to go thither again, as if it were to and goest thou thith- tempt the danger from which thou hast so lateer again? ly with such difficulty escaped? John 9 Jesus answered, Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours 9 Are there not twelve in the day? Now if any man take the advanhours in the day? If any man walk in the tage of them, and walk in the day, he is preday, he stumbleth pared for all events, and does not stumble at not, because he seeth any obstacle which may lie in his way; because the light of this the sun is then above the horizon, and he sees 10 But if a man the light of this world. But if any man will 10 walk in the night, he rather choose to walk in the night, it is no stumbleth, because wonder at all if he stumbles then, because there world. and in the following verses happened dur ing the interval of Christ's delay to go to Bethany, after he had heard that Lazarus was sick: but I do not find that Christ went to Jerusalem now; and if he did, it seems that those events happened in his very last journey thither, and consequently should not be introduced here; especially as they break the thread of the story, out of regard to which, I think, some small transposi tions may well be allowed in other places, though none be needful here. 242 SECT. cxxxix. John He tells his disciples that Lazarus is dead. is no light in the air around him. In like man- there is no light in ner I am desirous, as I lately told you, to do him. the will of my heavenly Father while the day xi. 10 of opportunity of life lasts, (John ix. 4, sect. cxxx.) and I doubt not but I shall thereby approve myself in his sight, and secure his protection and favour. 11 12 13 14 These things he said to silence their objec- 11 These things tions, and to prepare their minds for what he said he and after yet concealed: and after this, as he perfectly them, Our friend that, he saith unto knew what had passed at Bethany, though so Lazarus sleepeth; many miles distant from it, he says to them, but I go that I may Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I am going to him, that I may awaken him; thereby referring to his death, and to that raising him from it which he intended quickly to effect. awake him out of sleep. His disciples therefore, not apprehending his 12 Then said his meaning, immediately said, Lord, if he sleeps disciples, Lord, if naturally and quietly, as thou seemest to inti- he sleep, he shall do mate, he will probably recover; and there is the less reason for thy running the hazard of going thither to heal him. well. But Jesus spake this concerning his death, 13 Howbeit, Jesus which for many apparent reasons he chose to spake of his death : represent under this gentle imaged but they that he had spoken but they thought thought that he had spoken of his taking rest as of taking of rest in a living man does in a common sleep. sleep. 14 Then said Je Lazarus is dead. Then Jesus therefore, that he might not hold them any longer in suspense, or leave them un- sus unto them plainder a mistake, said to them plainly, Lazarus is ly, 15 indeed dead. And, as I could not have permitted this to have happened in my presence, I am glad on your account that I was not there; that you may more confidently believe in me, and may find your faith confirmed by a farther For many apparent reasons he chose to represent under this gentle image.] Our Lord might choose the expression of Lazarus sleeping partly out of tenderness, as being least shocking, when he spoke of so dear a friend; as Homer, when he represents Antilochus as reporting the death of Patroclus to Achilles, used the word xtíl, he is fallen, rather than he is slain. (Iliad lib. xviii. ver. 20.) And it may also be farther considered as an instance of our Lord's modesty he does not immediately say, "He is dead, and I go by my almighty power to burst the bonds of the sepulchre, 15 And I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there (to the intent ye may be and to command him back to life again ;" but, avoiding all parade and ostentation, he chooses the simplest and humblest expression that can be thought of. This fine remark (which Mr. Blackwall makes in his Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 297) is admirably illustrated, in a great variety of particulars in the present story, by the ingenious Dr. Lardner in his Vindication of it. He has treated the subject with a candour and rectitude of heart equal to the accuracy of this critical skill, and even equal to that malignity and baseness of soul with which Woolsion attacked it. Reflections on the sickness and death of Lazarus. leve); nevertheless, remarkable display of my Divine power, in 16 Then said Tho. mas, which is called us also go, that we may die with him. Then Thomas, who was also called Didymus, Didymus, unto his said to his fellow disciples and brethren in the fellow disciples, Let apostolic office, Since our dear Master will expose himself to so much danger among his inhuman enemies in Judea, let us also go, though it be only that we may die with him; for whatsoever he may suffer, it is infinitely better we should take our portion with him, even in death, than that we should desert such a friend in an article of the extremest danger. IMPROVEMENT. 243 SECT. схххіх. John xi. 16 How happy was this family of Lazarus in which Christ was verse 5 so frequent a guest! how happy Lazarus and his sisters, who were so peculiarly beloved by him! Yet sickness and death in- 1, 3, 14 vaded that family; and this excellent man, as it should seem, in flourishing circumstances (ver. 19), and perhaps too in early youth, was snatched away, on a sudden, by what appeared a very untimely stroke. The friends of Christ must be sick, and die, as well as others; and no man knoweth either love, or hatred, by all that is before them under the sun. (Eccles. ix. 1.) Let us therefore judge nothing before the time. (1 Cor. iv. 5.) This sickness and death of Lazarus was for the glory of God: and may 4 all our personal and domestic sufferings be so! "To this, O Lord, may our life be consecrated, and to this may our death be subservient! We shall not then feel our dying pangs in half their bitterness, when our hearts are inflamed with a zeal for thy glory, and when we see that even those pangs are promoting it." Our Lord delayed his coming to this dear friend in his extrem- 6 ity; and perhaps it occasioned, not only many an anxious, but many a suspicious thought both to Lazarus and his sisters; yet the intent of this delay was both gracious and important. Let us not limit our Divine Master as to the time or manner of his appearance for us: let us not censure him if it be for a while put off. It is to exercise our faith and patience, and to make the mercy more signal and more welcome. At length a resolution is formed to go into Judea; though 7, 8, 15 but a little while ago the Jews had assaulted him, even in a sacred place, with burning malice in their hearts, and the instruments of death in their hands. But when Providence called, none of these things could move our blessed Redeemer, neither counted he his life dear unto him, that he might finish his course with joy. (Acis xx. 24.) May we shew the like intrepidity 244 When Christ came to Bethany Lazarus was dead four days. SECT. of soul in his service! walking in that day, that we may not cxxxix. stumble, and taking all proper opportunities of performing the duties of life while the season of it lasts; and then, when the verse night of death comes, it will close our eyes in peaceful slumbers. 9,10 The repose of the breathless corpse, insensible of alarms, and sorrows, and cares, will be a lovely emblem of the sweet repose of the soul in the arms of Divine love, till ere long Christ shall come to awaken us out of our sleep by that general resurrection of which this of Lazarus was a figure and pledge. 11 Let these glorious thoughts and expectations animate us to all the returns of affection, duty, and zeal. Let them teach us the temper of Thomas when he said, Let us go and die with him. 16" Blessed Jesus! how much better is it to die with and for thee, who art the resurrection and the life, than to prolong these wretched days of absence, meanness, and affliction, by forsaking thee when thou art leading us into danger!" SECT. cxl. John xi. 17 18 SECT. CXL. Our Lord raises Lazarus from the dead after he had been buried four days. John XI. 17-46. JOHN XI. 17. JOHN XI. 17. lain in the grave four days already. T HEN Jesus, according to the resolution he HEN when Now Bethany, the place where Lazarus had 18 (Now Bethany And many 19 And many of of the Jews who dwelt there, when the fu- the Jews came to neral was over, came to Martha and Mary, that Martha and Mary, Many of the Jews, &c.] It might be one reason why Jesus delayed his coming till the fourth day, that he might meet a great number of them, as, for wise purposes, he determined to make this miracle very public. Came to Martha and Mary.] The original has itp as wept Mapbar na Mapiav; but the learned Revius, in his Notes on Valla on this text, has produced incontest. able authorities to vindicate our version here, and to shew that there is no need to render or paraphrase it as Beza and Wolfius would do," That the men came to join with those female friends who had before attended the mourning sis ters, and were now with them." The word Isday, Jews, to be sure, includes persons of both sexes. See also Raphe. Not. ex. Xenoph. p. 137. On meeting Martha he declares her brother shall rise again. 245 to comfort them they might comfort them concerning the loss of SECT. concerning their their beloved brother. brother. 20 Then Martha, him but Mary sat cxl. John And Jesus was no sooner come into the as soon as she heard neighbourhood, but presently the news of his xi. 20 that Jesus was com- approach was brought to the afflicted family ing, went and met that had so long been impatiently desirous to still in the house. see him. Martha therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, immediately went out to meet him: but Mary, who was mourning with her friends in private, was not as yet informed of his approach, and [still] sat weeping in the house.d 21 Then said Mar if thou hadst been had not died. Then Martha, being told where she might 21 tha unto Jesus, Lord, meet with him, and having hastened to the here, my brother place, said unto Jesus, Lord, we have been much surprised at thy delay, and cannot but be exceedingly troubled at it, that thou didst not immediately take notice of the message that we sent thee; for, surely, if thou hadst been here, my dear brother had not died, but would have been given back to thy prayers, which in so many instances have been success22 But I know, ful even for the recovery of strangers. that even now what- even now I know, that whatsoever thou shalt soever thou wilt ask of God, God will think fit to ask of God, it shall assuredly be granted; and I am satisfied that God will give [it] thee, however great the favour be, if there be any method to repair the grievous loss we have sustained. give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith that he shall rise But 22 Jesus, beholding her distress with a compas- 23 sionate concern, says to her, Martha, do not abandon thyself to overwhelming grief; for I assure thee that thy beloved brother shall rise again from the dead. Then Martha, conceiving some secret and 24 unto him, I know trembling hope from these words, yet desiring again in the resur- some farther confirmation of it, says to him, rection at the last Lord, I well know, and steadfastly believe, that day. he shall rise again in the general resurrection at the last day (compare chap. v. 29, and Luke xiv. 14); but the distance of that leaves me still under a load of sorrow. That they might comfort them, &c.] Sat weeping in the house.] She prob Many ceremonies used by the ancient Jews ably sat on the ground, which was the. in mourning for the dead and in comforting posture of mourners. Compare Job ii. 8. the mourners are collected by Dr. Lightfoot Ezek. viii. 14; and Mat, xxvii. 61. (in his Hor. Hebr. on this place); but the mention of them here would be tedious, rather than edifying. |