118 SECT. exxxix. John Reflections on the sickness and death of Lazarus. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he His disciples therefore, not apprehending his meaning, immediately said, Lord, if he sleeps sleep, he shall do well. naturally and quietly, as thou seemest to intiXI. 12. mate, he will probably recover; and there is the less reason for thy running the hazard of going thither to heal him. 13 14 13 Howbeit, Jesus But Jesus spake this concerning his death, which spake of his death: for many apparent reasons he chose to represent Then Jesus therefore, that he might not hold 16 Ver. your but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes, that the intent ye may believe); nevertheless let us go unto him. I was not there (to 16 Then said Tho.. Didymus, unto his fel Then Thomas, who was also called Didymus, said to his fellow-disciples and brethren in the mas, which is called apostolic office, Since our dear Master will ex- low-disciples, Let us pose himself to so much danger among his in- also go, that we may human enemies in Judea, let us also go, though die with him. it be only that we may die with him; for whatsoever he may suffer, it is infinitely better we should take our portion with him, even in death, than that we should desert such a friend in an article of the extremest danger. IMPROVEMENT. How happy was this family of Lazarus in which Christ was 5 so frequent a guest! how happy Lazarus and his sisters, who 1,3, 14 were so peculiarly beloved by him! Yet sickness and death invaded d For many apparent reasons he chose to represent under this gentle image.] Our Lord might choose the expressions of Lazarus sleeping partly out of tenderness, as being least shocking, when he spoke of so dear a friend; as Homer, when he represents Antiochus as reporting the death of Patroclus to Achilles, used the word nla, he is fallen, rather than he is slain: (Iliad. lib. xviii. ver. 20.) And it may also be farther considered as an instance of our Lord's modesty he does not immediately say, "He is dead, and I go by my almighty power to burst the bonds of the se. that pulchre, and to command him back to life again;" but, avoiding all parade and ostentation, he chooses the simplest and humblest expression that can be thought of.This fine remark (which Mr. Blackwall makes in his Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 297) is admirably illustrated, in a great variety of particulars in the present story, by the ingenious Dr. Lardner in his Vindication of it. He has treated the subject with a candour and rectitude of heart equal to the accuracy of his critical skill, and even equal to that malignity and baseness of soul with which Woolston attacked it. Reflections on the sickness and death of Lazarus. 119 cxxxix. that family; and this excellent man, as it should seem, in flou- SECT. rishing circumstances (ver. 19), and perhaps too in early youth, was snatched away, on a sudden, by what appearedļa very untimely stroke. The friends of Christ must be sick, and die, as well as others; and no man knoweth either love, or hatred, by all that is before them under the sun; (Eccles. ix. 1.) Let us therefore judge nothing before the time; (1 Cor. iv. 5.) This sickness and death of Lazarus was for the glory of God: and may all our personal 4 and domestic sufferings be so! "To this, O Lord, may our life be consecrated, and to this may our death be subservient! We shall not then feel our dying pangs in half their bitterness, when our hearts are inflamed with a zeal for thy glory, and when we see that even those pangs are promoting it." Our Lord delayed his coming to this dear friend in his extremity; 6 and perhaps it occasioned, not only many an anxious, but many a suspicious thought, both to Lazarus and his sisters; yet the intent of this delay was both gracious and important. Let us not limit our Divine Master as to the time or manner of his appearance for us: let us not censure him if it be for a while put off. It is to exercise our faith and patience, and to make the mercy more signal and more welcome. At length a resolution is formed to go into Judea; though but 7,8,15 a little while ago the Jews had assaulted him, even in a sacred place, with burning malice in their hearts, and the instruments of death in their hands. But when Providence called, none of these things could move our blessed Redeemer, neither counted he his life dear unto him, that he might finish his course with joy. (Acts xx. 24.) May we shew the like intrepidity of soul in his service! walking in the day, that we may not stumble, and taking 9, 10 all proper opportunities of performing the duties of life while the season of it lasts; and then, when the night of death comes, it will close our eyes in peaceful slumbers. The repose of the breathless 11 corpse, insensible of alarms, and sorrows, and cares, will be a lovely emblem of the sweeter repose of the soul in the arms of Divine love, till ere long Christ shall come to awaken us out of our sleep by that general resurrection of which this of Lazarus was a figure and pledge. Let these glorious thoughts and expectations animate us to all the returns of affection, duty, and zeal. Let them teach us the temper of Thomas when he said, Let us go and die with him. Blessed Jesus! how much better is it to die with and for thee, 16 who art the resurrection and the life, than to prolong these wretched days of absence, meanness, and affliction, by forsaking thee when thou art leading us into danger!" SECT. 120 SECT. When Christ came to Bethany Lazarus was buried four days. SECT. CXL. Our Lord raises Lazarus from the dead after he had been buried four days. John XI. 17-46. JOHN XI. 17. JOHN XI. 17. he had lien in the grave HEN Jesus, according to the resolution he Ex T had declared to his disciples (ver. 7, 15), deJohn parted from the country beyond Jordan, where XL. 17. he had continued for some time, and went towards Bethany; and when he came near the vil lage, he found that his friend Lazarus was dead, and that he had been now four days in the tomb. Now Bethany, the place where Lazarus had lived, was very near to Jerusalem, being but about fifteen furlongs off (or somewhat less than furlongs off.) two miles); so that he was well known in the 19 city, and had many friends there. And many 19 And many of the of the Jews who dwelt there, when the fune- Jews came to Martha ral was over, came to Martha and Mary, that them concerning their they might comfort them concerning the loss of brother. 18 their beloved brothers. 18 (Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen and Mary, to comfort soon as she heard that was coming, house. 20 And Jesus was no sooner come into the neigh- 20 Then Martha, as bourhood, but presently the news of his ap- Jesus proach was brought to the afflicted family that went and met him: but had so long been impatiently desirous to see him. Mary sat still in the Martha therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, iminediately went out to meet him: but Mary, who was mourning with her friends in private, was not as yet informed of his approach, and [still] sat weeping in the house. 21 21 Then said Mar thou Then Martha, being told where she might meet with him, and having hastened to the place, the unto Jesus, Lord if said unto Jesus, Lord, we have been much surprised at thy delay, and cannot but be exceed a Many of the Jews, &c.] It might be one reason why Jesus delayed his coming till the fourth day, that he might meet a great uumber of them, as, for wise purposes he determined to make this miracle very public. b Came to Martha and Mary.] The original has it πρΘ' τας περι Μαρθαν και Magiay; but the learned Revius, in his Notes on Valla on this text, has produced incontestible authorities to vindicate our version here, and to shew that there is no need to render or paraphrase it as Beza and Wolfius would do, "That the men came to join with those female friends who had before attended the mourning sisters, ingly and were now with them." The word day, Jews, to be sure includes persons of both sexes.-See also Raphel. Not. ex. Xenoph. p. 137. c That they might comfort them, &c.] Many ceremonies used by the ancient Jews in mourning for the dead and in comforting the mourners are collected by Dr. Lightfoot (in his Hor. Hebr, on this place); but the mention of them here would be tedious, rather than ed tying. d Sat weeping in the house.] She probably sat on the ground, which was the posture of mourners. Compare Job ii. 8. Ezek. viii. 14. and Mat. xxvii. 61, • That 121 On meeting Martha he declares her brother shall rise again. thou hadst been here, ingly troubled at it, that thou didst not imme- SECT. my brother had notdied, diately take notice of the message that we sent cxi. thee; for, surely, if thou hadst been here, my Joha dear brother had not died, but would have been XI. 21. given back to thy prayers, which in so many instances have been successful even for the recovery of strangers. But even now I know, 22 that whatsoever thou shalt think fit to ask of God, it shall assuredly be granted; and I am satisfied that God will give [it] thee, however great the favour be, if there be any method to repair the grievous loss we have sustained. 22 But I know, that even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus, beholding her distress with a compas- 23. sionate concern, says to her, Martha, do not abandon thyself to overwhelming grief; for I assure thee that thy beloved brother shall rise again from the dead. Then Martha, conceiving some secret and 24 trembling hope from these words, yet desiring some farther confirmation of it, says to him, Lord, I well know, and stedfastly believe, that he shall rise again in the general resurrection at the last day (compare chap. v. 29, and Luke xiv. 14.) but the distance of that leaves me still under a load of sorrow. 25 Jesus then said unto her, I am the resurrection 95 and the life (compare chap. v. 21, and Deut. XXX. 20.) by me the general resurrection shall be accomplished, and by me a most glorious and happy life shall be given to all my people, and be maintained even to eternal ages: he therefore that believes in me, though he be dead, yet he shall ere long live again, and his re-animated body shall be again united to that soul which in its separate state continues its dependance on my power and faithfulness; and even at present I can loose the bonds of death, and though thy brother now is holden by it, I can recall him when I please to life: And every one that is 26 now living, and believes in me, shall never die: e That is living and believes in me, shall never die.] The sense that I have given in the paraphrase appears to me the most consistent sense that can be made of these remarkable words, and the equivalent passages: John v. 24. and viii. 51. And a very sublime and important sense it is, perfectly agreeable to the height of sentiment and language with which Christ is said elsewhere to have abolished death, and to have destroyed the devil (2 Tim. i. 10. and death Heb. ii. 14), and with which Christians To ren not 122 John Martha declares her faith in Jesus as the Messiah. SECT. death shall be so disarmed and transformed that me, shall never die. cxl. it shall hardly deserve the name; the better part Believest thou this? of him being immediately conveyed to immorXI. 26. tal life and glory, and the body only sleeping a while in the dust, till I come to awaken it to everlasting vigour and joy. Dost thou, Martha, believe this to be true? 27 And she says to him, Yes, Lord, I firmly believe every thing thou sayest; for I am fully persuaded that thou art the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world, and has been so long promised, expected, and desired; and that all power therefore must belong to thee. 97 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord I be lieve that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come inthe world. to 28 And when she had so said, she went And Martha having said these [words], and testified her faith, Jesus inquired for her sister; her way, and called and presently she went away, and called her sister Mary her sister secretMary as privately as she could, whispering in her ly, saying, The Masear, and saying, The Master is hard by, and calleth ter is come, and calleth 29 for thee. And as soon as she heard [it] she 29 As soon as she immediately arose, and, having left the company beard that, she arose that were about her, came forward with the quickly, and came unNow Jesus 30 utmost eagerness to meet him. 31 32 was not yet entered into the village, but still con- The Jews then who were with her in the house, for thee. to him. 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. in 31 The Jews then which were with her the house, and comsaw Mary, that she rose up hastily, and went ing, She goeth unto the grave, to weep there. forted her, when they out, followed her, say 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she Then Mary, when she came to the place where Jesus was, and saw him, was so far from being afraid to avow her regards to him (compare fell down at his feet, John ix. 22, sect. cxxx), that she fell down at his feet, and embraced them with the greatest not die for ever, or eternally." is both respect, saying were dead, who are yet spoken of as believing in Christ; and is, I think, no contemptible proof of their remaining in a state of activity: but the doctrine is so very plain in scripture as not to need the aid of such consequential arguments. f She is going to the sepulchre, that she may weep there.] How customary this was among the ancients is particularly observed by Elsner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 330. • Jesus |