Exposition of John, Chapter 11 · Verse 28
Verſe 43. And when he thus had ſpoken, he cryed with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth.
44. And he that was dead, came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-cloathes: and his face was bound about with a napkin, Jeſus ſaith unto them, Looſe him, and let him go.
In theſe verſes we have the ſecond part of the Chapter, containing the miracle it ſelfe, which is ſhortly done. For Chriſt calling on the dead man, as if he were alive, to come forth, he cometh out in the ſame poſture wherein he was laid in his grave. And Chriſt requires ſome to looſe him, that ſo they might be further confirmed of the truth of the miracle. Whence learn, 1. The upſhot and cloſe of Chriſts dealing will richly compence all his delayes, and ſeeming harſh dealing; for, the iſſue of all this procedure, in the former part of the Chapter, is, that Lazarus is raiſed again. 2. Albeit Chriſt may, in his peoples trouble, take much time to exerciſe and prepare them for mercy, and to let out proofes of his compaſſion and ſympathy; Yet when that is done, he can give an iſſue, and help them, in a moment; for, now when all theſe are over here, the miracle is preſently diſpatched. And when he had thus ſpoken, and tried diſciples and friends, removed their unbelief; manifeſted his own affectionate heart, &c. he cried, &c. 3. Chriſts word of command, whereby the world was created, and is upheld, is ſufficient to effectuate greateſt things, if it were even to raiſe the dead; for, he did no more, in bringing about this miracle, but cried, &c. 4. His crying with a loud voice, in the audience of all, was not only an evidence of his omnipotency, and that, as he employed the Father, ſo alſo, he put forth his own power in this miracle; But further, it points out. 1. His affection and earneſtneſſe to have the thing done, and ſheweth, That Chriſt is not a coldriffe friend, but takes a hearty lift in what concerns his people. 2. It points out his confidence in the matter, and therefore he publikely interpriſeth it in the hearing of all. To teach, that whatever our unbeleeving hearts ſay, yet Chriſt is not afraid of his work, that it ſhall miſcarry in his hand. Doctrine 5. Chriſt, in employing his omnipotency, doth not look on things as they are in themſelves, or ſeem to be unto us; But he calleth theſe things that are not, as though they were, and in ſpeaking to, and commanding the powerleſſe and dead, he giveth them life and ſtrength to obey; for, he cryed, Lazarus come forth. His omnipotency ſpeaks to him, as to one living, and ready to come forth on a call, becauſe at this very word, he put life in him to hear and obey. See Rom. 4.17. 6. Chriſt hath our life in his hand, to take it away, or reſtore it, at his pleaſure; and when he calls even for the dead, they will obey him; for, and he that was dead came forth. 7. Whatever enjoyments men have within time, yet it is but little of theſe things they can take away with them; for, it is marked, that he came out bound with grave-cloathes, and his face bound about with a napkin. Not ſo much to point out a new miracle in the boſome of the other, that a dead man ſhould not only come out, but come out ſo bound as might hinder one to walk; for, it may eaſily be conceived, that the bonds were ſo looſe, as he might creep one way or other out, and he knew the place better then to go wrong, though his face was covered. But the ſcope, in part, is, to point ou… how little Lazarus had carried away with him, even grave-cloathes. See 1 Tim 6.7. 8. As Chriſt our Lord will work no needleſſe miracles; So he will have all convinced of the reality o… thoſe he worketh: Therefore alſo will he bring him out in his grave-cloathes, and …ids them, looſe him, and let him go, that he may walk at freedome, That ſo they might ſee him bound as they had laid him in, and themſelves in handling and looſing him, might be further confirmed that it was a true miracle. As alſo (as was marked on, ver. 39) he would not looſe him by a miracle, ſince mens hands could do that.