Yochanan 11

1 1 Now there was a certain man, a choleh (sick man), El’azar from Beit-Anyah (Bethany), the shtetl of Miryam and Marta her achot.

2 Now this was the same Miryam that anointed Adoneinu with mishcha (ointment, 12:3) and wiped his feet with her hair. It was she whose ach El’azar was choleh.

3 Therefore, the achayot (sisters) sent to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying, Adoni, hinei, the one who is your chaver haahuv is choleh.

4 And having heard this, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, This machla (illness, krankeit) is not unto mavet (death), but for the kavod Hashem, that the Ben HaElohim may receive kavod through it.

5 Now Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had ahavah for Marta, and her achot and El’azar.

6 When, therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach heard that El’azar was choleh, then he remained in the place where he was yomayim (two days).

7 Then after this he says to his talmidim, Let us go into the land of Yehudah again.

8 His talmidim say to him, Rebbe, just now those of the land of Yehudah [Judeans] were seeking to stone you, and you go there again?

9 In reply, he said, Are there not Sheneym Asar (Twelve) sha’ot (hours) of HaYom? If the derech of anyone is a derech by Yom, he does not stumble, because the Ohr HaOlam Hazeh he sees. [Jer 13:16; Ps 1:6]

10 But if the derech of anyone is a derech baLailah, he stumbles because the Ohr is not in him.

11 These things he said. Then, after this, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, El’azar our chaver haahuv has fallen asleep, but I am setting out to awaken him.

12 Therefore, the talmidim said to him, Adoni, if he has fallen asleep, he will be granted refu’ah (healing).

13 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had spoken about the mavet of El’azar. However, those ones supposed that he was speaking about only shlof (sleep).

14 Then, therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach told them plainly, El’azar died.

15 And I have lev same’ach for your sake, that I was not there, that you may have emunah. But let us go to him.

16 Therefore, T’oma—his name means Twin—said to his fellow talmidim, Let us go also, that we may die [al kiddush ha-Shem] with him.

17 Having arrived, therefore, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach discovered El’azar had already been in the kever (tomb) arba’ah yamim (four days).

18 Now Beit-Anyah (Bethany) was near Yerushalayim, about fifteen stadia away.

19 And many of those of Yehudah had come to Marta and Miryam to give them nechamah (consolation, comfort) regarding the ach of the achayot. [IYOV 2:11]

20 Therefore, Marta when she heard that Yehoshua comes, met him; but Miryam was sitting shivah in the bais.

21 Therefore, Marta said to Yehoshua, Adoni, if you were here, achi (my brother) would not have passed away.

22 But even now I have da’as that whatever you ask Hashem, Hashem will give you.

23 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to her, Achich yakum (Your brother will stand up [up from the Mesim]).

24 Marta says to Yehoshua, I have da’as that he will rise in the Techiyas HaMesim on the Yom HaAcharon (Last Day). [DANIEL 12:2]

25 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to her, Ani Hu the Tekhiyyah and the Chayyim (Life): the one having emunah in me, even if he should die, will live,

26 and everyone living and having emunah in me, never dies. Do you have emunah in this?

27 She says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Ken, Adoni. I have emunah that you are the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, the Ben HaElohim, Hu Habah el HaOlam.

28 And having said this, she withdrew and summoned Miryam her achot, telling her privately, Rabbeinu and Moreinu is here, and summons you.

29 And that isha, when she heard, got up quickly and was coming to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

30 Now he had not yet come into the shtetl, but was still in the place where Marta met him.

31 Therefore, those of Yehudah, the ones sitting shiva with her in the bais and giving her nechamah, when they saw Miryam get up quickly and rush out, followed her, assuming that she is going to the kever (tomb) that she might weep there.

32 Therefore, Miryam, when she came where Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was, and when she saw him, fell down at his feet, saying to Rebbe, Adoni, if you were here, achi (my brother) would not have died.

33 Therefore, when he saw her weeping and those of Yehudah coming with her and also weeping, he was deeply moved in his neshamah and was troubled in himself,

34 And said, Where have you laid him? They said to him, Adoni, come and see.

35 Yehoshua wept.

36 Therefore, those of Yehudah were saying, Hinei! See how much ahavah he had for him.

37 But some of them said, Could not this man, who was able to open the eyes of the ivver, have also prevented this man from passing?

38 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, therefore, again being deeply moved within himself, comes to the kever (tomb). Now it was a me’arah (cave) type of kever and a stone was lying against it.

39 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says, Lift the stone. Marta, the achot of the niftar (deceased), says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Adoni, already he smells, for it is now arba’ah yamim (four days).

40 He says to her, Did I not tell you that if you have emunah (faith), you will see the kavod Hashem?

41 Therefore, they lifted the stone and he lifted up his eyes and said, Avi, I thank You that You heard me.

42 And I knew that You always hear me, but, because of the multitude standing around, I said it, that they may have emunah (faith) that You sent me.

43 And having said these things, he cried out with a kol gadol, El’azar, come forth!

44 Then the niftar, having been bound feet and hands with the linen clothes of the tachrichin, and with his face covered with a mitznefet (head wrapping), came out. He says to them, Untie him and let him go.

45 Therefore, many of those of Yehudah, the ones having come to Miryam and having seen the things which Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach did, put their emunah in him. [SHEMOT 14:31]

46 But some of them went away to the Perushim and reported to them everything Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach did.

47 Therefore, the Rashei Hakohanim and the Perushim called a meeting of the Sanhedrin and were saying, What are we doing, for this man is performing many otot (miraculous signs)?

48 If we leave him thus, kol Bnei Adam will have emunah (faith) in him, and the Romans will come and will take away from us both the Beis Hamikdash and the nation.

49 But a certain one of them, Caiapha, being Kohen Gadol that year, said to them, You do not have da’as of anything

50 Nor do you consider that it is a bedievedike (expedient) thing for you that one man should die on behalf of HaAm and not that all the nation should perish. [YONAH 1:1215; YESHAYAH 53:8]

51 But this he did not utter from himself, but, being Kohen Gadol that year, he uttered a dvar hanevu’ah that Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was about to die on behalf of the nation [Ex 28:30; Num 27:21; Isa 53:8]

52 And not on behalf of Am Yisroel only but also the yeladim of Hashem, the ones having been scattered, that he may gather into echad. [YESHAYAH 49:6]

53 From that Yom on, therefore, they planned that they might put him to death.

54 Therefore he no longer was walking openly among those of Yehudah, but went away from there into the region near the wilderness, to a shtetl called Efrayim, and there Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach remained with the talmidim. [SHMUEL BAIS 13:23]

55 Now Pesach was near and many went up to Yerushalayim from the country before the Pesach for the purpose of HITTEHARU (they purified themselves, 2Ch 30:18).

56 They were seeking, therefore, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach and were saying to one another while they stood in the Beis Hamikdash, What does it appear to you? Surely he will not come to the Chag (Feast)!

57 Now the Rashei Hakohanim and the Perushim had given orders that if anyone had da’as of where he is, he should reveal it so that they might arrest him.

Yochanan 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

The sickness of Lazarus. (1-6) Christ returns to Judea. (7-10) The death of Lazarus. (11-16) Christ arrives at Bethany. (17-32) He raises Lazarus. (33-46) The Pharisees consult against Jesus. (47-53) The Jews seek for him. (54-57)

Verses 1-6 It is no new thing for those whom Christ loves, to be sick; bodily distempers correct the corruption, and try the graces of God's people. He came not to preserve his people from these afflictions, but to save them from their sins, and from the wrath to come; however, it behoves us to apply to Him in behalf of our friends and relatives when sick and afflicted. Let this reconcile us to the darkest dealings of Providence, that they are all for the glory of God: sickness, loss, disappointment, are so; and if God be glorified, we ought to be satisfied. Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. The families are greatly favoured in which love and peace abound; but those are most happy whom Jesus loves, and by whom he is beloved. Alas, that this should seldom be the case with every person, even in small families. God has gracious intentions, even when he seems to delay. When the work of deliverance, temporal or spiritual, public or personal, is delayed, it does but stay for the right time.

Verses 7-10 Christ never brings his people into any danger but he goes with them in it. We are apt to think ourselves zealous for the Lord, when really we are only zealous for our wealth, credit, ease, and safety; we have therefore need to try our principles. But our day shall be lengthened out, till our work is done, and our testimony finished. A man has comfort and satisfaction while in the way of his duty, as set forth by the word of God, and determined by the providence of God. Christ, wherever he went, walked in the day; and so shall we, if we follow his steps. If a man walks in the way of his heart, and according to the course of this world, if he consults his own carnal reasonings more than the will and glory of God, he falls into temptations and snares. He stumbles, because there is no light in him; for light in us is to our moral actions, that which light about us to our natural actions.

Verses 11-16 Since we are sure to rise again at the last, why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life, make it as easy for us to put off the body and die, as it is to put off our clothes and go to sleep? A true Christian, when he dies, does but sleep; he rests from the labours of the past day. Nay, herein death is better than sleep, that sleep is only a short rest, but death is the end of earthly cares and toils. The disciples thought that it was now needless for Christ to go to Lazarus, and expose himself and them. Thus we often hope that the good work we are called to do, will be done by some other hand, if there be peril in the doing of it. But when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, many were brought to believe on him; and there was much done to make perfect the faith of those that believed. Let us go to him; death cannot separate from the love of Christ, nor put us out of the reach of his call. Like Thomas, in difficult times Christians should encourage one another. The dying of the Lord Jesus should make us willing to die whenever God calls us.

Verses 17-32 Here was a house where the fear of God was, and on which his blessing rested; yet it was made a house of mourning. Grace will keep sorrow from the heart, but not from the house. When God, by his grace and providence, is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort, we should, like Martha, go forth by faith, hope, and prayer, to meet him. When Martha went to meet Jesus, Mary sat still in the house; this temper formerly had been an advantage to her, when it put her at Christ's feet to hear his word; but in the day of affliction, the same temper disposed her to melancholy. It is our wisdom to watch against the temptations, and to make use of the advantages of our natural tempers. When we know not what in particular to ask or expect, let us refer ourselves to God; let him do as seemeth him good. To enlarge Martha's expectations, our Lord declared himself to be the Resurrection and the Life. In every sense he is the Resurrection; the source, the substance, the first-fruits, the cause of it. The redeemed soul lives after death in happiness; and after the resurrection, both body and soul are kept from all evil for ever. When we have read or heard the word of Christ, about the great things of the other world, we should put it to ourselves, Do we believe this truth? The crosses and comforts of this present time would not make such a deep impression upon us as they do, if we believed the things of eternity as we ought. When Christ our Master comes, he calls for us. He comes in his word and ordinances, and calls us to them, calls us by them, calls us to himself. Those who, in a day of peace, set themselves at Christ's feet to be taught by him, may with comfort, in a day of trouble, cast themselves at his feet, to find favour with him.

Verses 33-46 Christ's tender sympathy with these afflicted friends, appeared by the troubles of his spirit. In all the afflictions of believers he is afflicted. His concern for them was shown by his kind inquiry after the remains of his deceased friend. Being found in fashion as a man, he acts in the way and manner of the sons of men. It was shown by his tears. He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Tears of compassion resemble those of Christ. But Christ never approved that sensibility of which many are proud, while they weep at mere tales of distress, but are hardened to real woe. He sets us an example to withdraw from scenes of giddy mirth, that we may comfort the afflicted. And we have not a High Priest who cannot be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. It is a good step toward raising a soul to spiritual life, when the stone is taken away, when prejudices are removed, and got over, and way is made for the word to enter the heart. If we take Christ's word, and rely on his power and faithfulness, we shall see the glory of God, and be happy in the sight. Our Lord Jesus has taught us, by his own example, to call God Father, in prayer, and to draw nigh to him as children to a father, with humble reverence, yet with holy boldness. He openly made this address to God, with uplifted eyes and loud voice, that they might be convinced the Father had sent him as his beloved Son into the world. He could have raised Lazarus by the silent exertion of his power and will, and the unseen working of the Spirit of life; but he did it by a loud call. This was a figure of the gospel call, by which dead souls are brought out of the grave of sin: and of the sound of the archangel's trumpet at the last day, with which all that sleep in the dust shall be awakened, and summoned before the great tribunal. The grave of sin and this world, is no place for those whom Christ has quickened; they must come forth. Lazarus was thoroughly revived, and returned not only to life, but to health. The sinner cannot quicken his own soul, but he is to use the means of grace; the believer cannot sanctify himself, but he is to lay aside every weight and hinderance. We cannot convert our relatives and friends, but we should instruct, warn, and invite them.

Verses 47-53 There can hardly be a more clear discovery of the madness that is in man's heart, and of its desperate enmity against God, than what is here recorded. Words of prophecy in the mouth, are not clear evidence of a principle of grace in the heart. The calamity we seek to escape by sin, we take the most effectual course to bring upon our own heads; as those do who think by opposing Christ's kingdom, to advance their own worldly interest. The fear of the wicked shall come upon them. The conversion of souls is the gathering of them to Christ as their ruler and refuge; and he died to effect this. By dying he purchased them to himself, and the gift of the Holy Ghost for them: his love in dying for believers should unite them closely together.

Verses 54-57 Before our gospel passover we must renew our repentance. Thus by a voluntary purification, and by religious exercises, many, more devout than their neighbours, spent some time before the passover at Jerusalem. When we expect to meet God, we must solemnly prepare. No devices of man can alter the purposes of God: and while hypocrites amuse themselves with forms and disputes, and worldly men pursue their own plans, Jesus still orders all things for his own glory and the salvation of his people.