John 11:34

11:33-46 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.

And said, where have ye laid him?.... This he might say as man, though he, as the omniscient God, knew where he was laid; and that it might appear there was no juggle and contrivance between him, and the relations of the deceased; and to raise some expectation of what he intended to do; and to draw the Jews thither, that they might be witnesses of the miracle he was about to work. They say unto him; That is, Martha and Mary, Lord, come and see; it being but a little way off.

John 11:34 . His intense feeling prompts Him to end the scene, and He asks, Ποῦ τεθείκατε αὐτόν ; He asks because He did not know. They reply, but probably with no expectation of what was to happen, ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε . As He went ἐδάκρυσεν , “He shed tears”. To assert that such tears could only be theatrical because He knew that shortly Lazarus would live, is to show profound ignorance of human nature. And it also shows ignorance of the true sympathy requisite for miracle. “It is not with a heart of stone that the dead are raised.”

Where have ye laid him? - Jesus spoke as a man. In all this transaction he manifested the deep sympathies of a man; and though he who could raise the dead man up could also know where he was, yet he chose to lead them to the grave by inducing them to point the way, and hence, he asked this question.

[Bible] 10:34. Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I said, you are gods? 10:35. If he called them gods to whom the word of God was spoken; and the scripture cannot be broken: 10:36. Do you say of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest; because I said: I am the Son of God? 10:37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 10:38. But if I do, though you will not believe me, believe the works: that you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in the Father. 10:39. They sought therefore to take him: and he escaped out of their hands. 10:40. And he went again beyond the Jordan, into that place where John was baptizing first. And there he abode. 10:41. And many resorted to him: and they said: John indeed did no sign. 10:42. But all things whatsoever John said of this man were true. And many believed n him. John Chapter 11 Christ raises Lazarus to life. The rulers resolve to put him to death. 11:1. Now there was a certain man sick, named Lazarus, of Bethania, of the town of Mary and of Martha her sister. 11:2. (And Mary was she that anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair: whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 11:3. His sisters therefore sent to him, saying: Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 11:4. And Jesus hearing it, said to them: This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God: that the Son of God may be glorified by it. 11:5. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and Lazarus. 11:6. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he still remained in the same place two days. 11:7. Then after that, he said to his disciples: Let us go into Judea again. 11:8. The disciples say to him: Rabbi, the Jews but now sought to stone thee. And goest thou thither again? 11:9. Jesus answered: Are there not twelve hours of the day? If a man walk in the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world: 11:10. But if he walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him.