Exposition of John, Chapter 11 · Verse 18 – Verse 22
Verſe 27. She ſaith unto him, Yea, Lord, I beleeve that thou art the Chriſt the Sonne of God, which ſhould come into the world.
In the laſt place, we have Martha's anſwer to this queſtion; wherein, ſhe aſſents unto what Chriſt had required her to beleeve, and ads a confeſſion of her faith concerning his perſon and offices, which ſhe profeſſeth ſhe hath beleeved before, as it is in the original. This ſhe ſubjoynes, not only as the ground of her faith in this particular, unto which ſhe now aſſents, But her weak grip (as would appear) not being able expreſſely to apprehend all this which he hath ſpoken, though ſhe aſſent unto it; Therefore ſhe paſſeth it in a word, and profeſſeth her faith concerning his perſon and office, acknowledging him to be the promiſed Meſſiah, the Sonne of God, and conſequently, profeſſeth ſhe beleeveth all that may flow from this. Whence learn, 1. Weak faith may grow up to more clearneſſe and aſſurance, by converſing and conference with Chriſt, laying open our weakneſſes to him, and receiving inſtructions from him; for, her anſwer to Chriſts queſtion, is, Yea, Lord, affirming that ſhe beleeved it, (though yet weakly) and ſo ſhe is brought a further length then ſhe had attained before, ver. 24. 2. In the matter of encouragements and promiſes, the Lord hath ſo ordered it, that ſome ſhould be fundamentals (ſuch as, the promiſe, I am thy God, the truths concerning Chriſts perſon and offices, &c.) which comprehend many promiſes in them; the reſt being but a particular application of theſe generals to particular caſes; As here her practice inſinuates, recurring to this, as a chiefe and comprehenſive ground of comfort, that he is the Chriſt, &c. 3. The conſequences that flow from theſe fundamental encouragements and promiſes, are ſo many, and ſo full, that one, who beleeveth the firſt, may yet not ſee theſe conſequences ſo clearly, nor yet ſo firmely beleeve all that flows from it; for, Martha (as would appear) cannot get all this ſo diſtinctly gripped; when yet ſhe beleeves that he is the Chriſt, &c. from which all of it neceſſarily flows. At leaſt, this is clear, that ſhe hath beleeved, that he is the Chriſt, &c. even when ſhe doubted of this particular which he calls her to beleeve. And this lets us ſee, that they who beleeve theſe general encouragements, have much more to be refreſhed with, then they have well conſidered; and, that it is of Gods rich love, condeſcending to our weakneſſe, that he draws out theſe generals in particular promiſes, relating to our particular neceſſities. 4. When our faith ſtaggers in any particular exigent, or proves weak in beleeving particular promiſes; it is our duty to recurre to theſe general grounds of faith and encouragement, and hold them faſt till we get more, and ſtudy the fulneſſe that is in them, that we may be led on to more particular confidence; for, ſuch is her practice; whatever her former doubting, or preſent weakneſſe in beleeving were, yet ſhe beleeves, and hath beleeved, that he is the Chriſt, &c. The ſtudying of Chriſts perſon and offices is a notable mean to confirme our faith in all the promiſes concerning all the benefits to be had in him; for, this ſhe layeth hold on for that end, I beleeve that thou art the Chriſt, the Sonne of God which ſhould come into the world. The ſtudy of this will make us ſure both of his good will, as Mediators, and power, as God, to do what he promiſeth. 6. Chriſt is never rightly beleeved in, nor taken up, except he be acknowledged to be the Meſſiah promiſed unto the Fathers, and the eternal Sonne of God; for, ſo much doth her confeſſion point out concerning him. 7. Chriſt was not unknown under the Old Teſtament, but was revealed and held forth in the promiſe; And accordingly, the godly did cloſe with him by faith, Act. 15.11. Heb. 13.8. Rev. 13.8. And as they ſaw him to be true God, ſo they did expect and wait for him to come into the world, at the appointed time, made of a woman, and ſo to be God and man in one perſon: for, ſaith ſhe, thou art the Chriſt the Sonne of God, which ſhould come into the world, intimating that he was revealed, and accordingly beleeved in, and expected by them before he came; and that they acknowledged him, who was to come into the world, by his being made fleſh, to be God, the Sonne of God. 8. All Gods promiſes of and concerning the Meſſiah, were fulfilled and accompliſhed in the perſon of Jeſus Chriſt the Sonne of Mary; for, ſaith ſhe of him now exhibited, Thou art the Chriſt the Sonne of God which ſhould come into the world, So that there is no other to be expected. And as this was true of his perſon, ſo all other predictions, concerning the Meſſiah, in his life, death, reſurrection, &c. were accompliſhed in him, as is frequently obſerved and recorded in the New Teſtament. And this may aſſure us, that all Gods promiſes ſhall be fulfilled in him to his people. 8. True faith in Chriſt will not judge of him by outward appearance, nor outward lots, but will pierce through all theſe clouds, and ſee his glory; for, when he is in the forme of a ſervant, and lately driven from Jeruſalem, yet ſaith ſhe, I beleeve thou art the Chriſt, the Son of God.
Ver. 28. And when he had thus ſaid, ſhe went her way, and called Mary her ſiſter, ſecretly, ſaying, The Maſter is come and calleth for thee.
Followeth the ſecond antecedent of the miracle, after Chriſt was come near to Bethany, which is, his meeting and encounter with Mary, with ſome conſequents that followed, before he came to the grave, to ver. 38.
This may be taken up in ſix particulars; whereof the firſt, (in this ver.) is, the call given to Mary, to come out to Chriſt; Martha, after the former conference, cometh to her ſiſter (not of her own accord, but at Chriſts command) to carry the newes and meſſage to her. Doctrine. 1. Chriſt ſhould be acknowledged, by all his own, to be their Maſter and teacher, whoſe doctrine and direction they will follow; Therefore, is he deſigned by this common and acknowledged name among his followers, The Maſter, or, Teacher. 2. Chriſt may be very near unto mourners, and they not know of it, and they may be puzled and perplexd for his abſence, when he is hard at hand; for, while Mary is mourning at home, ſuppoſing that Chriſt is about Jordan, and grieving that he is not come, he is at her hand at Bethany, The Maſter is come. 3. Albeit the tenderneſſe and cruſhed condition of ſome, may ſuſpend their comfort from them, yet Chriſt will ſeek ſuch at laſt, and not be at reſt, till he meet with them, and comfort them; for, it was by reaſon of Maries cruſhed ſpirit, that ſhe is mourning ſtill, and hears nothing of Chriſt, when Martha hath been comforted by him; Yet Chriſt knowing her diſtreſſe, and that ſhe is mourning, he mindes her, and will have her brought to him; He calleth for thee. 4. Whoever they be that come to fetch a tender mourner to Chriſt, they come not of their own head, but have his allowance ſo to do; for, ſo doth Martha tell this mourner, The Maſter calleth for thee. 5. Such as have taſted of Chriſts ſweetneſſe themſelves, are moſt fit meſſengers, to invite others to him; for, Martha is employed, after ſhe hath met with Chriſt, and he hath fixed her faith on himſelfe; when ſhe had ſo ſaid, ſhe went her way (being ſent) and called her ſiſter Mary, &c. 6. It may encourage mou…ners to come to Chriſt, that his reſpect to them is not ſuſpended upon their coming, but he prevents them with warme invitations; for, ſo will he have Mary encouraged, The Maſter is come, and calleth for thee. See Mark. 10.49. 7. Such as have found Chriſts tender kindneſſe toward them, will be tender of him and all that concerneth him; Therefore doth ſhe call her ſiſter ſecretly, leſt theſe Jewes who were with them, knowing of him, might bring him in ſome hazard. And albeit Chriſt himſelfe was not affraid, yet it was very commendable that Chriſts ſafety ſhould lye near their heart, whoſe neceſſity had brought him thither.
Ver. 29. Aſſoone as ſhe heard that, ſhe aroſe quickly, and came unto him.
30. Now Jeſus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
In the ſecond place is recorded Maries obedience unto this call; He aroſe and went to him, where he yet ſtayed without the town. Whence learn, 1. Whatever jealouſie or prejudice mourners have at Chriſts dealing; yet he will be ſtill welcome newes unto them, and they ought not to ſtay away from him; for, though ſhe was under the ſame tentation with Martha, yet ſhe alſo aroſe and came to him. 2. Newes of Chriſts approach will make fainting mourners revive, and be active to run and meet him; for, ſhe who ſate drooping and faint in the houſe, as appears from ver. 20, 31. now, when ſhe heard that, ſhe aroſe quickly and came to him. 3. Such as have the opportunity of comfort from Chriſt, will preferre him to all the comforts they can receive from friends; Therefore ſhe aroſe quickly, and came to him, leaving all that were in the houſe comforting her. 4. In the dayes of Chriſts fleſh, his calling went neareſt his heart of any thing, and he preferred the opportunities of doing good, to all his own caſe and accommodations: Therefore it is marked, as a reaſon why Mary went out unto him, Jeſus was not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met him. He had not ſo much as entered the town to refreſh himſelfe, not for fear of the Jewes, (for his hand and providence brings them out afterward, ver. 31,) but he chooſed this as a ſit time and place to comfort Mary in, and his minde was upon working the miracle before he reſted. And all this tends to ſhew what a faithful and merciful high Prieſt he is, and how enlarged his heart is toward his people, when now he hath no particular neceſſity of his own, to divert him.
Ver. 31. The Jewes then that were with her in the houſe, and comforted her, when they ſaw Mary that ſhe roſe up haſtily and went out, followed her, ſaying, She goeth unto the grave, to weep there.
In the third place, is recorded how the Jewes who comforted her, conſtructed of her going out, as if ſhe were going to weep at the grave, (as it ſeems this cuſtome had crept in among them) and therefore they follow her, to interrupt her. Whence learn, 1. Such as are moſt tender, and moſt ſenſibly affected and burdened with trials, may expect not only greater ſympathy from Chriſt, but alſo that (in ſo far as it is good for them) he will ſtir up other inſtruments, to take a more hearty life at their condition; for, ſo much appears in the practice of theſe Jewes, who perceiving Maries greater need, ſate with her in the houſe, and comforted her, and roſe up haſtily and followed her, when ſhe went out, whereas, it appears, they had taken little notice of Martha's going out or coming in. 2. It is a ſinful practice of our nature, to ad to the burdens laid upon us by God, and feed our own ſorrows, by penſive thinking or looking upon that wherein God afflicts us; for, their apprehenſion upon her going out, intimates they had ſome ſuch cuſtome among them, of going to graves, to weep there, that the ſight of their loſſe might waken their ſorrow. 3. It is no wonder to ſee the world and natural men miſtake the wayes of the godly, and to ſee, even their natural comforters in trouble, judge of them according to their own carnal principles and diſpoſitions; for, albeit there be no appearance that Mary had uſed this practice before, yet they miſconſtruct her going out, ſhe goeth to the grave to weep there, not only becauſe they knew not her calling to go to Chriſt, but this being natures practice, they could judge no better of her. 4. It is our duty to reſtrain carnal ſorrow, if it were but by interrupting thereof, if we cannot be comforted under it; for, ſo much doth their practice teach, they roſe up haſtily, and followed her, thinking to interrupt and ſcarre her from her weeping, if ſhe would not be recalled by them. 5. The Lords providence doth oft-times tryſt men, in following their ordinary duty, with very unexpected favours; for, while they are following Mary, to moderate her ſorrows, providence leads them out to Chriſt, and to be witneſſes of a glorious miracle. 6. There is much good to be gotten in the fellowſhip of the godly, and in ſtudying to be ſteadable and comfortable to them in their diſtreſſe; for, it is in Maries company, and while they are comforting her, they meet with this favour.
Verſe 32. Then when Mary was come where Jeſus was, and ſaw him ſhe fell down at his feet, ſaying unto him, Lord, if thou hadſt been here, my brother had not died.
In the fourth place, Maries diſcourſe to Chriſt, when ſhe met him, is … it the name …rate which Martha had, …er. 21. only ſhe exp…th it with great reverence and humility, and with much ſorrow and many tears alſo, as appears from ver. 33. which it ſeems ſtopped the current of her ſpeech, that ſhe cannot declare any thing concerning her faith, as Martha had done. Doctrine, 1. The ſame tentation and groundleſſe conceit that a…aul…s …e, may alſo p…ſſe another; for, Mary hath the ſame thoughts with Martha. It ſeems they conferred together about it, and ſo had ſtrengthned one another in it, which is an uſual fault among the godly, And … this was a tentation, ſo it is no wonder if Maries tenderneſſe were as much ſupprized with it, as any; for, albeit it be a fault, yet ſuch weeds uſually grow in beſt ground. 2. The more eminent one be in grace and acquaintance with Chriſt, the more humble and reverent will they be before Chriſt; for, in this Mary …ſtrips Martha, ſhe fell down at his feet, 3. An humble and reverent Saint will not be miſconſtructed of Chriſt, under their his of diſtemper; for, by this ſhe corrects her paſſionate ſpeech, in that no prejudice nor tentation takes away her humble reverence, ſhe fell down at his feet, ſaying, Lord, if thou hadſt been here, my brother had not died.