Exposition of John, Chapter 11 · Verse 24 – Verse 25
Ver. 36. Then ſaid the Jewes, Behold how he loved him.
37. And ſome of them ſaid, Could not this man which opened the eyes of the blinde, have cauſed that even this man ſhould not have died?
The ſixth particular recorded, is the conſtruction the Jewes had of Chriſts expreſſed ſympathy: They obſerving his ſorrow, do admire his love to dead Lazarus, and marvel that he who had wrought ſuch wonders, might not alſo have prevented his death. It is moſt probable, that they who admire his love, were theſe Jewes who were beſt affected to Chriſt, though they have not yet beleeved on him, till afterward, ver. 45. and that they who wonder he had not prevented his dying, are theſe malicious Jewes, who after the miracle, went and informed the Rulers, ver. 46. and therefore the firſt ſort are indifinitely named the Jewes here, who are called many, ver. 45. and the other ſort are, both here, and ver. 46. called only ſome of them, Or, it may be conceived, that all of them concurring in wondering at his love to Lazarus, as a thing they could not deny, the more malicious ſort do adde that cavil and exception.
From ver. 36. Learn, 1. Chriſts love to his people is a very captivating and raviſhing meditation; for, that which took hold on them, and ſtrikes them with admiration, is, he loved him, which was indeed a truth, that Chriſt as he pitied Mary and her ſiſter, ſo he reſpected Lazarus eſpecially, and therefore burſt forth in ſorrow, through affection to him and them, and through indignation at Satan and ſin, which drew on theſe miſeries. 2. The fountain of any compaſſion ſhewed by Chriſt to his own in miſery, is not any worth in them, but his own free love; for, his compaſſionate weeping leads them up to his love, as the cauſe thereof. 3. Chriſt thinks no ſhame of his love to his people, but will avow it, and have it known ſometime to beholders; for, he doth here ſo let it out as they mark it. See Rev. 3.9. 4. Chriſts ſympathy and compaſſion toward his people, proves his love to them, although they get not viſible out-gates from their troubles; for, upon his weeping, they gather, he loved him; his ſympathy and tears prove love, albeit the man died. And indeed, they who get a ſight of Chriſts tender heart, will beleeve his love, whatever his diſpenſations be. 5. Chriſts love and compaſſion is a wonder to them who know him not well; Yea, it is in it ſelfe admirable, and ſuch as ſee it, will rather admire it, then know how to comprehend it: Behold, ſay they, how he loved him! See Eph 3.18, 19. 6. Chriſts love to his own will follow them even to their graves; As here he gives evidence how he loved him, when he is lying in his grave. And albeit every Saint do not meet with that proofe of love which Lazarus got, in being raiſed up again; yet that love reſts upon them, till the general reſurrection.
From ver. 37. Learn, 1. Chriſts love is readily miſconſtructed, when he is letting it out moſt convincingly, and it is liker an enemy, then a friend, ſo to do; for, there are here who indirectly carp at his love, and the expreſſions of it, ſince he ſuſtered the man to die. 2. Corrupt men, and the corrupt diſpoſitions of men, will not readily beleeve Chriſts love, unleſſe it appear in ſome evidences and effects deſired by them; for, this is their indirect exception, that he cauſed not that this man ſhould not have died. Miſconſtructers of Chriſts love are ordinarily limiters of his love, to be evidenced in ſuch and ſuch particulars. 3. Men may have much knowledge, and yet much malice againſt Chriſt; Yea, knowledge is very dangerous, if it be not ſanctified and ſeaſoned with grace and love; for, theſe men can tell that he opened the eyes of the blinde, ch. 9.6. and, it ſeems, are better acquaint with his proceedings then the others, and yet they carp at his love. 4. Chriſt hath given ſuch proofes of his power, as may convince malice it ſelfe, that he can do greateſt things for his people, if it be for their good; for, their reaſoning grants, that he which opened the eyes of the blind, could have cauſed that this man ſhould not have died. 5. When malice and prejudice hath ſaid its worſt againſt Chriſts dealing, it will be found, in end, that he is doing better then we could deſire; for, all they could have expected, was, that he ſhould have cauſed that this man ſhould not have died, which might have been done, and yet little of Chriſt or his love have been ſeen in it; For, it might have been looked on only as a recovery out of a dangerous diſeaſe. Whereas he is about to do that for Lazarus, which ſets forth his own glory, and makes his love to him conſpicuous indeed.
Ver. 38. Jeſus therefore again groaning in himſelf, cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a ſtone lay upon it.
Followeth, to ver. 43. the antecedents of the miracle, after Chriſt was come to the grave; which are, his rebuke of Martha's unbelief which burſt forth when he commanded to take away the ſtone upon the grave, ver. 39, 40. and his publike thankſgiving to the Father, after the ſtone was taken away, ver. 41, 42.
Unto theſe is premitted, in this verſe, 1. A declaration of his exerciſe in coming to the grave; He again groaned in himſelfe; Partly, out of indignation at their unbeleeving cavils, ver. 37. which he digeſted without anſwering. But chiefly, this flowed from his ſympathy and affection, which ſtill continues, and is renewed at the ſight of the grave; And it ſeems alſo that his praying, of which he gives ſo comfortable an account, ver. 41. drave him to theſe groans. For his prayers were very ardent, and he had hard exerciſe in them, Heb. 5.7. that he might be a fellow-feeler with all who tread theſe ſteps. 2. There is premitted, a deſcription of the grave, which ſeems to be marked, chiefly, as an introduction to the following command, to take away the ſtone. Doctrine, 1. Chriſt our Lord was very ſerious in the works of his calling, and could be very ſerious about them, even in the midſt of outward diſtractions; for, in the midſt of all this company, and while he is walking on in the way, he is exerciſed till he groan again. 2. Chriſts compaſſion and ſympathy is not an evaniſhing paſſing thing, but will continue toward the needy, till they get their iſſue; for, he ceaſeth not his groaning, but groaned again, in ſympathy and prayer, till the work be done. 3. The unbelief of men, when Chriſt is about to do great things, is a grievous burden to him; for, this groaning again, relates alſo to their unbelief, who were to be witneſſes of this miracle, as is before marked. See Mark. 6.5, 6. 4. Whatever be the deſert of unbelief, yet Chriſt will not alwayes be hindred by it to do good to the needy; But he will bear it as a part of our miſery, and yet go on to his work; for, he groaned in himſelfe for it, and ſo cometh to the grave. 5. As decent and ordinary burial is in it ſelfe a mercy, and it is a judgement upon the wicked, to want it, Jer. 16.4. and 22.18, 19. So in the way of burial, there is no reſpect to be had to ſuperſtitious conceits, nor yet to pompe and vain glory, but only that the dead be removed out of the ſight of the living, Gen. 23.4. and that their bodies be ſecured againſt external violence and injury, as being cloſed upon hope of a reſurrection; Therefore, it is marked of Lazarus burial place, that it was only a cave, and a ſtone lay upon it, that his body might not be violate nor injured.