John:11

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* Verse 1-6 - It is no new thing for those whom Christ loves , to be sick ; bodily distempers correct the corruption , and try the graces of God 's people . He came not to preserve his people from these afflictions , but to save them from their sins , and from the wrath to come ; however , it behoves us to apply to Him in behalf of our friends and relatives when sick and afflicted . Let this reconcile us to the darkest dealings of Providence , that they are all for the glory of God : sickness , loss , disappointment , are so ; and if God be glorified , we ought to be satisfied . Jesus loved Martha , and her sister , and Lazarus . The families are greatly favoured in which love and peace abound ; but those are most happy whom Jesus loves , and by whom he is beloved . Alas , that this should seldom be the case with every person , even in small families . God has gracious intentions , even when he seems to delay . When the work of deliverance , temporal or spiritual , public or personal , is delayed , it does but stay for the right time . * Verse 7-10 - Christ never brings his people into any danger but he goes with them in it . We are apt to think ourselves zealous for the Lord , when really we are only zealous for our wealth , credit , ease , and safety ; we have therefore need to try our principles . But our day shall be lengthened out , till our work is done , and our testimony finished . A man has comfort and satisfaction while in the way of his duty , as set forth by the word of God , and determined by the providence of God . Christ , wherever he went , walked in the day ; and so shall we , if we follow his steps . If a man walks in the way of his heart , and according to the course of this world , if he consults his own carnal reasonings more than the will and glory of God , he falls into temptations and snares . He stumbles , because there is no light in him ; for light in us is to our moral actions , that which light about us to our natural actions . * Verse 11-16 - Since we are sure to rise again at the last , why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life , make it as easy for us to put off the body and die , as it is to put off our clothes and go to sleep ? A true Christian , when he dies , does but sleep ; he rests from the labours of the past day . Nay , herein death is better than sleep , that sleep is only a short rest , but death is the end of earthly cares and toils . The disciples thought that it was now needless for Christ to go to Lazarus , and expose himself and them . Thus we often hope that the good work we are called to do , will be done by some other hand , if there be peril in the doing of it . But when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead , many were brought to believe on him ; and there was much done to make perfect the faith of those that believed . Let us go to him ; death cannot separate from the love of Christ , nor put us out of the reach of his call . Like Thomas , in difficult times Christians should encourage one another . The dying of the Lord Jesus should make us willing to die whenever God calls us . * Verse 17-32 - Here was a house where the fear of God was , and on which his blessing rested ; yet it was made a house of mourning . Grace will keep sorrow from the heart , but not from the house . When God , by his grace and providence , is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort , we should , like Martha , go forth by faith , hope , and prayer , to meet him . When Martha went to meet Jesus , Mary sat still in the house ; this temper formerly had been an advantage to her , when it put her at Christ 's feet to hear his word ; but in the day of affliction , the same temper disposed her to melancholy . It is our wisdom to watch against the temptations , and to make use of the advantages of our natural tempers . When we know not what in particular to ask or expect , let us refer ourselves to God ; let him do as seemeth him good . To enlarge Martha 's expectations , our Lord declared himself to be the Resurrection and the Life . In every sense he is the Resurrection ; the source , the substance , the first-fruits , the cause of it . The redeemed soul lives after death in happiness ; and after the resurrection , both body and soul are kept from all evil for ever . When we have read or heard the word of Christ , about the great things of the other world , we should put it to ourselves , Do we believe this truth ? The crosses and comforts of this present time would not make such a deep impression upon us as they do , if we believed the things of eternity as we ought . When Christ our Master comes , he calls for us . He comes in his word and ordinances , and calls us to them , calls us by them , calls us to himself . Those who , in a day of peace , set themselves at Christ 's feet to be taught by him , may with comfort , in a day of trouble , cast themselves at his feet , to find favour with him . * Verse 33-46 - Christ 's tender sympathy with these afflicted friends , appeared by the troubles of his spirit . In all the afflictions of believers he is afflicted . His concern for them was shown by his kind inquiry after the remains of his deceased friend . Being found in fashion as a man , he acts in the way and manner of the sons of men . It was shown by his tears . He was a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief . Tears of compassion resemble those of Christ . But Christ never approved that sensibility of which many are proud , while they weep at mere tales of distress , but are hardened to real woe . He sets us an example to withdraw from scenes of giddy mirth , that we may comfort the afflicted . And we have not a High Priest who cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities . It is a good step toward raising a soul to spiritual life , when the stone is taken away , when prejudices are removed , and got over , and way is made for the word to enter the heart . If we take Christ 's word , and rely on his power and faithfulness , we shall see the glory of God , and be happy in the sight . Our Lord Jesus has taught us , by his own example , to call God Father , in prayer , and to draw nigh to him as children to a father , with humble reverence , yet with holy boldness . He openly made this address to God , with uplifted eyes and loud voice , that they might be convinced the Father had sent him as his beloved Son into the world . He could have raised Lazarus by the silent exertion of his power and will , and the unseen working of the Spirit of life ; but he did it by a loud call . This was a figure of the gospel call , by which dead souls are brought out of the grave of sin : and of the sound of the archangel 's trumpet at the last day , with which all that sleep in the dust shall be awakened , and summoned before the great tribunal . The grave of sin and this world , is no place for those whom Christ has quickened ; they must come forth . Lazarus was thoroughly revived , and returned not only to life , but to health . The sinner cannot quicken his own soul , but he is to use the means of grace ; the believer cannot sanctify himself , but he is to lay aside every weight and hinderance . We cannot convert our relatives and friends , but we should instruct , warn , and invite them . * Verse 47-53 - There can hardly be a more clear discovery of the madness that is in man 's heart , and of its desperate enmity against God , than what is here recorded . Words of prophecy in the mouth , are not clear evidence of a principle of grace in the heart . The calamity we seek to escape by sin , we take the most effectual course to bring upon our own heads ; as those do who think by opposing Christ 's kingdom , to advance their own worldly interest . The fear of the wicked shall come upon them . The conversion of souls is the gathering of them to Christ as their ruler and refuge ; and he died to effect this . By dying he purchased them to himself , and the gift of the Holy Ghost for them : his love in dying for believers should unite them closely together . * Verse 54-57 - Before our gospel passover we must renew our repentance . Thus by a voluntary purification , and by religious exercises , many , more devout than their neighbours , spent some time before the passover at Jerusalem . When we expect to meet God , we must solemnly prepare . No devices of man can alter the purposes of God : and while hypocrites amuse themselves with forms and disputes , and worldly men pursue their own plans , Jesus still orders all things for his own glory and the salvation of his people . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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