Exposition of John, Chapter 11 · Verse 12 – Verse 13
Verſe 17. Then when Jeſus came, he found that he had lien in the grave foure dayes already.
18. (Now Bethany was nigh unto Hieruſalem, about fifteen furlongs off.)
19. And many of the Jewes came to Martha, and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
Followeth to ver. 38. Some antecedents of the miracle, after Chriſt came near to Bethany, and before he came to the grave. Unto which, and theſe that follow a preface and introduction is premitted in theſe verſes, which will give light to the following purpoſe. And namely there is recorded. 1. The length of time ſince Lazarus, who was to be raiſed, had been buried: Jeſus findes that is was foure dayes, ver. 17. 2. The nearneſſe of Bethany to Jeruſalem, (namely, that it was a furlong leſſe then two miles, eight furlongs making a mile) is marked, ver. 18. And that as for other reaſons, ſo alſo to point out a reaſon why ſo many Jewes came to bear Mary and Martha company, which is the third thing premitted, ver. 19.
Doctrine, 1. While as it is ſaid, Jeſus found he had lien foure dayes, we need not enquire how he found it, for we may conceive that as he knew of his death before, and told of it, ver. 11, 14. So now he found by report and information that it was as he knew: As indeed, his knowledge is infallible. Though it may be alſo aſſerted in general, that Chriſt as man (being freely acted by the Godhead) was ſinleſſely ignorant of ſome things not incumbent to his calling, and did learn from experience, information, &c. Luk 2.52. Mark. 13.32. And by this, he would curb the licentious wit of man, who would preſume to know all things; And doth condeſcend to theſe who are ignorant of many things, providing they know what is incumbent to them in their ſtations. 2. Chriſt will have the difficulties of his own ſingular, and remarked to be ſo, that his glory may be ſingular in ridding them out of theſe; Therefore, it is premitted that he had lien in the grave foure dayes already, that his glory in raiſing him might be the greater, … it might be ſeen that however he delayed long, yet he came in time enough to raiſe him, as is after cleared. For this produced more fruit in his own, then if he had not died, or had been but new dead; and it made his death to be devulged at Jeruſalem, as appears by their coming to comfort the ſiſters, that ſo malice it ſelfe might not doubt of the miracle. 3. Such as have gotten good news from Chriſt concerning their difficulties; may yet meet with many ſeeming ſad diſappointments, before they finde them accompliſhed; for, they got newes, ver. 4. this ſickneſſe is not unto death, and yet he is not only dead, but had lien in the grave foure dayes. 4. Mens exerciſe of their calling may lie very near to hazards, that ſo they may exerciſe faith in God, for, Bethany, the place where Chriſts calling lay, was nigh unto Jeruſalem, where his cruel enemies were, and where he was to ſuffer, even about fifteen furlongs off. 5. It is not inconſiſtent with Chriſtianity, to have moderate ſorrow for the loſſe of friends, and to be ſo affected, as to need comfort: for, Martha and Mary need ſome to comfort them concerning their brother. Only that they do come to comfort, it ſhewes, that the ſorrow ſhould be moderate, and that the mourners ſhould not reject conſolation. 6. It is the duty of friends and neighbours, to ſympathize with, and comfort others, in diſtreſſe; for, ſo much were theſe Jewes convinced of, who came (from Jeruſalem, as is to be gathered from verſe 18.) to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 7. It is a ſpecial advantage, when God caſts friends and comforters to be near people, when they ſtand in need of them; Therefore alſo, it is marked, that Jeruſalem, whence they came, was nigh to Bethany. Job had his friends further off. 8. Men may, upon ſome reſpects, love ſome who are truely godly, and yet not love Chriſt, nor yet love others who bear the ſame image; for, as yet (as would appear from ver. 45.) none of theſe beleeved in Chriſt, and ſo could not love him, and ſome of them were violent enemies; and yet they loved theſe godly women, and came to comfort them. It may be, becauſe they were eminent women, they are reſpected; And many who will not look on Chriſt, will yet look to any who are in eminency: And therefore, the good that is in ſuch, would be cheriſhed, if ſo be it may gain others. It is alſo ordinary for natural men, to like the parts of gracious perſons, when yet they do not love their graces▪ And whatever it be, certainly it is upon ſome by-reſpect that this love is founded.
Verſe 20. Then Martha, aſſoone as ſhe heard that Jeſus was coming, went and met him: but Mary ſate ſtill in the houſe.
The antecedents of the miracle, after that Chriſt came near to Bethany, and before he came to the grave, may be reduced to theſe two. 1. Martha's meeting and conference with him, to ver. 28. 2. His meeting with Mary, and ſome conſequents following thereupon, ver. 28. — 37.
Chriſts meeting and conference with Martha contains ſeveral particulars, to be ſpoken in order, whereof the firſt (in this ver.) is her meeting with him. She, though a good woman, and ſenſible of her loſſe alſo, yet being of a ſtronger minde then Mary, and conſequently ſtirring moſt up and down, gets firſt word of Chriſts approach, and goeth to meet him; whereas Mary knowing nothing of this, ſtayes ſtill within. Whence learn, 1. As among he truely gracious, ſome are more tender and ſpiritual then others So the moſt godly are ordinarily moſt affected with griefes, and more broken under them, then others; for, Martha is able to ſtir, and gets newes of Chriſt, while as tender Mary ſits ſtill under her ſorrows, and hears of no ſuch thing. This may teach the godly, and eſpecially weak and tender hearted ones, not to meaſure every one by themſelves; for, theſe who have real good, may have really different diſpoſitions, and ſome come far ſhort of others; And it may teach them whoſe mindes are broken and made tender, as to guard leſt every difficulty take too deep impreſſion, ſo alſo to expect more liberal allowance from Chriſt, as Mary afterward found. 2. Whatever comfort or ſympathy men meet with from friends in their trouble; yet comfort from Chriſt alſo will be needed by all the godly; for, albeit they had comforters, ver. 19. yet ſhe went and met him, when ſhe heard of his coming, to welcome him as a needful guheſt; And it may be ſhe me… him without, as fearing hazard to him from the Jewes that were in the houſe. 3. Martha had her own prejudice at Chriſts carriage, that he had not come ſooner, as appears afterward, as well as ſhe had faith; and yet faith prevails that ſhe ſtayes not from him, but goeth to him: It teacheth, that unbelief is never deadly, ſo long as a man is not kept from coming to Chriſt by it; And whatever complaints a man have of Chriſts dealing, yet faith is ſtill the conquerour, ſo long as all theſe complaints are poured out only in Chriſts own boſome.