Exposition of John, Chapter 11 · Verse 2
Verſe 3. Therefore his ſister ſent unto him, ſaying, Lord, behold, he whom thou loveſt is ſick.
In this verſe we have a ſecond antecedent and a more near occaſion of his returne; to wit, The meſſage of theſe ſiſters unto Chriſt, whoſe modeſty and care of their ſick brother not permitting them to go to him themſelves they ſend a meſſenger to acquaint him with the condition of their ſick brother; And to prevaile with him, they deſcribe their brother, neither from his name, nor from any good in him, but from Chriſts love to him. And albeit this their carriage, in ſending a meſſenger to acquaint Chriſt with their brothers ſickneſſe, may ſeem to intimate their weakneſſe, in not knowing, or not minding (by reaſon of their preſent griefe) his omniſcience, which might have taught them to acquieſce in their pre…enting the matter to him by prayer; Yet, as we finde it not condemned that any came or ſent to him, while he was on earth, and their doing ſo, contributed to make his glory conſpicuous in his working; ſo their practice, and the meſſage they ſend, do afford profitable inſtructions. Doct. 1. Albeit Chriſt be looked on, oft-times, as very troubleſome company, and therefore men do drive him away, either from themſelves, by ill entertainment, or from the places they live in, by perſecution; Yet it will be found, that he may very ill be wanted in any place; for, albeit Chriſt was driven away by the Jewes fury, Chap. 10. 39, 40. Yet he is now miſſed and needed in Judea 2. Albeit the bonds of nature will not alwayes tye friends one to another; yet true piety will make the ſociety of ſuch comfortable, and make them truely uſeful one to another in ſtraits; for, here Lazarus and his ſiſters dwell together, and they bear a great weight in this his affliction, employing all means for his good, and being afterward heavily afflicted, when they ſucceed not according to their deſire. 3. As Chriſt hath taken on man; nature, ſo he hath alſo contracted a friendſhip betwixt himſelfe and ſome loſt ſinners; And as he reſpects all his creatures, as he is God and all mankinde, his parents, kinred, nation, friends, and acquaintance in their ſeveral relations, as he is man; and loves all his elect, as he is Mediatour: So it hath pleaſed him alſo, as a good man, to bear eſpecial love to ſome of his own elect, as a man doth to his eſpecial friends; Therefore is Lazarus deſcribed here to be, he whom thou loveſt, which doth not ſeclude his love to him in moſt of the former reſpects, but yet eſpecially points at that eſpecial love to him as a ſingularly good man. So alſo did he love the beloved diſciple, Joh. 13.23. 4, Whatever may be the expectations of men upon Chriſts love to them yet it will not exempt them from outward calamities; for, albeit they might think it ſtrange, that he whom thou loveſt is ſick, yet both of theſe are conſiſtent, and may ſtand together. 5. Whatever mens ſtraits be, bodily or ſpiritual, great or ſmall, or whatever lawful means they employ when they are under them; Yet then are difficulties rightly taken up, when men look upon them as needing and calling for Chriſt; and when, accordingly, the afflicted and their friends alſo do recommend the trial to him; for, ſuch is their carriage, they finde a need of Chriſt, for help under this bodily and outward trial, and accordingly, ſent unto him. 6. In coming to Chriſt, and employing of him under difficulties, no impediment that may deterre us, ought to be regarded; for, albeit in ſending this meſſage, it might be ſuggeſted, That, poſſibly, he had more to do, and might do more good where he was; That being far off, he could not come in time; and, That it was not ſafe to expoſe himſelfe to the fury of the Jewes; Yet they being in need, paſſe over all theſe, and ſent unto him. 7. Albeit Chriſt may make uſe of a trial, to beget friendſhip betwixt him and ſome of his elect; Yet they have a great advantage, who have it made up before; for, this is the ground of their confidence, that Chriſt loved Lazarus before, He whom thou loveſt, is ſick. And therefore, if ever men think they will ſtand in need of Chriſt, they ſhould make acquaintance with him in time. 8. Whatever there may be on Saints part, that would ſeem to commend them to Chriſt; yet true Saints will renounce all that, and betake themſelves only to his free love toward them; for, ſo much doth their practice teach, They do not deſcribe Lazarus as their brother, as if they would boaſt of any credite with Chriſt by their worth; nor do they mention any love in Lazarus entertaining Chriſts love, but they betake themſelves only to this, it is he whom thou loveſt. 9. Such as do beleeve Chriſts love toward them, ought alſo to beleeve that even their bodily infirmities are reſpected by him, and will be an acceptable errand to come to him withall; for, they do confidently employ him in this, Behold, he is ſick. 10. Where Chriſts love is beleeved, it will be accounted enough to lay our caſe before him, without preſcribing the way of help to him; Therefore, do they content themſelves with this petition, Behold, be whom thou loveſt is ſick, and they ſay no more. As Saints can never have peace in any condition, till they tell Chriſt of it; So they know their needs not much be ſaid to a Father, in limiting him to their deſires; but when they have laid their caſe before him to be conſidered, they may commit the anſwer to his wiſdome and love.