Exposition of John, Chapter 11 · Verse 10 – Verse 11
Ver. 14. Then ſaid Jeſus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your ſakes, that I was not there (to the intent ye may beleeve.) Nevertheleſſe let us go unto him.
Chriſt having thus tried them, doth 1. Plainly, and without allegory or metaphore, tell them that Lazarus is dead, ver. 14. And ſo that his calling was clear. 2. Whereas it might be thought that he had, by this delay, neglected Lazarus; He declareth that it was to good purpoſe, and for the confirmation of their faith by the clearneſſe of the miracle that he was not there, but ſtayed away: and therefore he was glad of it. 3. Whatever might be objected, that it was now too late and out of time to go, yet he reſolves to go for all that, ver. 15. Whence learn, 1. Chriſt doth not caſt off his own, though they be both unwilling to ſuffer, and ignorant, but meekly be…s with them, and ſpeaks againe and againe, till they underſtand him; for, Then ſaid Jeſus to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 2. It is an addition to the trial of the godly, that oft-times when their ſtraits are at the greateſt, Chriſt is abſent from them; for, Lazarus is dead, and I was not there, ſaith he, to wit, in his humanity. And this Mary and Martha reſent afterward, ver. 21, 3…. 3. Whatever may be the Saints thoughts of Chriſts dealing under their diſtreſſes, yet his way of dealing is ſtill the beſt; and he can give a good account that it is ſo, to ſatisfie their miſtakes: As here he obviats all carping at his abſence, by ſhewing that if he had been there, he could not have refuſed the ſupplications of the ſiſters, to prevent Lazarus death; and ſo there had not been ſo glorious a miracle wrought for confirmation of faith. Whereas now, both his omniſcience is evidenced, in telling of Lazarus death, and the miracle ſhould produce profitable effects. 4. Chriſt can not only give an account of his ſeeming ſtrange diſpenſations, but can produce matter of joy even out of the ſaddeſt of them; for, albeit Lazarus be dead, and his ſiſters drowned in ſorrow, yet, ſaith he, I am glad that I was not there, to prevent it. Not that he wanted ſympathy, but that he knew how to bring joy out of it. 5. As Chriſt mindes his own glory in all his working; ſo he joynes therewith the promoving of the true good of his people; for, this ſickneſſe and death of Lazarus is not only for the glory of God, ver. 4. but for your ſakes, and good. So that Saints will finde his glory and their good ſtill carried on together. 6. Chriſt in afflicting any of his own, mindes not only their own particular good, but the good of other Saints alſo; by their obſerving the proofes of Chriſt, manifeſted upon, and to the afflicted; for not only Lazarus, but the diſciples, (and ſiſters alſo) get good and confirmation out of the trial, and the iſſue of it. 7. Even ſuch as live under the moſt eminent miniſtry, for a long time, and are very eminent in Chriſts houſe, and who have ſeen much of Chriſt, may yet be very weak in faith, and need confirmation thereof; for, albeit theſe were called to be Apoſtles, and had ſeen the moſt of all Chriſts miracles, and lived under Chriſts miniſtry, till now that it is near an end; yet even at this time they need help to beleeve, or to be confirmed and ſtrengthened in it, That ye may beleeve. And it is ſtill of general verity, that whatever faith Saints have, yet it needs daily confirmation and growth. 8. Confirmation and ſtrengthening of faith is …o needful and uſeful, that it is not to be thought ſtrange, if Chriſt ſend ſharp trials, on our ſelves or others, to bring that about; Yea, a Saint is highly honoured, when God afflicts him moſt ſharply, if his afflictions and the iſſues of them, be a mean to confirme others; Therefore Chriſt thinks, Lazarus pain in his ſickneſſe and death, and the ſharp ſorrow of his ſiſters, but a ſmall thing, and not to be ſtood upon, if it produce confirmation of faith, even in Diſciples; I am glad I was not there, to the intent ye may beleeve. 9. As any thing that may advance our good, is matter of Chriſts joy; ſo in particular, there is nothing more pleaſant unto him, then to have his people beleeving and growing in faith, I am glad, to the intent ye may beleeve 10. Albeit Chriſts abſence from his people for a time, may ſeem to diſcourage them much, yet very abſence may tend to the ſtrengthening of their faith afterwards; for I was not there, to the intent ye may beleeve. 11. Whatever incouragement Chriſt allow upon his people, yet it is not to be expected that he will allow them their own deſired eaſe, by ſhifting their duty for any danger; for, albeit he point out all theſe ſolid grounds of comfort, yet go to Judea they muſt, Nevertheleſſe let us go. And indeed, if they had gotten their own deſired refreſhment, they had miſſed of all theſe true comforts. 12. Inability and impotency in the needy, will not hinder a meeting betwixt Chriſt and them, but he will go to them, who cannot come to him; for, ſuch is his dealing to dead Lazarus, Let us go unto him. 13. Chriſts going unto, or dealing even with the dead, is not uſeleſſe, but to good purpoſe; for, albeit it ſhould ſeeme it were too late to go now, nevertheleſſe, ſaith he, let us go unto him.
Ver. 16. Then ſaid Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow diſciples, let us alſo go, that we may die with him.
This conference cloſeth with a particular diſcovery of Thomas, Didymus, or, the twin, as his name Thomas, in the Hebrew alſo imports. He ſeeing Chriſt ſo reſolute, invites the reſt to go and dye with him, not with Lazarus, but with Chriſt: And the meaning is, That ſince Chriſt would not follow their counſel, but would run on his own death; there was nothing better for them, then to run on the hazard with him, and ſo once be out of troubles and fears. In this reſolution there doth indeed appear. 1. Affection, in cleaving unto Chriſt, and, 2. Zeal in exciting others to the ſame. Yet this reſolution is but full of fear and diſſidence, for, had he beleeved what was ſpoken ver 15. he would not have expected this iſſue of the journey. Doctrine, 1. It is the duty of Chriſts followers not to quit him, though it ſhould coſt them their lives; for, ſo much doth this reſolution teach. 2. It is their duty alſo, to excite one another to duty, in times of hazard; Let us go, ſaith he, and die. 3. Chriſts followers have more fears and ſad apprehenſions, then there is juſt cauſe; for, let us go and die, when Chriſt had told of another thing, imports ſo much. This produced an untimous exerciſe about ſuffering, wherein he proved not ſo reſolute, when he was called to it. 4. It breeds men much needleſſe exerciſe, that they will not beleeve nor expect the good that Chriſt promiſeth them, but will judge of all things by their own apprehenſions; for, ſo was it with him, his eye was ſo on feared danger, as he little regarded what Chriſt had promiſed. 5. The Lord doth not approve of that reſolution in dutie or ſuffering, that doth not ſlow from faith, but from diſtruſt; for, herein did Thomas reſolution faile. 6. The Lord alſo diſlikes mens willingneſſe to ſuffer, when it proceeds from a deſperate wearing of their preſent lot, which makes them content to rid themſelves of it by ſharp ſufferings; for, this was alſo one of his faults, as hath been before explained.