John 13
KingCommentsJohn 13:1
Conversation of the Lord With Martha
When Martha hears that the Lord is coming, she goes to meet Him. She does not have the patience to wait for Him. Possibly this is because of her active character. Mary does not follow her in her going to the Lord, but stays at home. Mary is waiting for Him. She knows that He is coming and has everything in His hands which gives her peace.
When Martha has come to the Lord, she expresses her faith in His power that her brother would not have died if He had been present. Possibly there is some disappointment in her voice that He did not come immediately when they sent Him the message of Lazarus’ sickness. Yet there is also faith in Martha that He is capable of wonders. However, she appears to think more about the future, the resurrection on the last day, than that He will still do a wonder to Lazarus now.
When she expresses her faith in Him as the Messiah Who receives from God everything He would ask of Him, it is an expression of the limited faith she has in Him. The Lord Jesus is not only the Messiah Who gets everything He desires from God. He is also God the Son Who will raise up Lazarus in His own power and thereby give a testimony concerning His Person that is greater than that of Messiah. She speaks of “God” and “ask”, while He is the Son of God Who does not have to ask God because He is God the Son.
Nevertheless, the Lord does not rebuke Martha for her lacking honor to His Person. He follows His own course in the teaching He gives to her. He promises her that her brother will rise again. Martha answers in a way which shows that she only sees the Messiah in the Lord Jesus. She knows that her brother will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. The certainty she expresses belongs to the faith of the Old Testament (Job 19:26; Psalms 118:17; Daniel 12:2). However, she does not realize that He is able to raise the dead now and that He will demonstrate this in just a few moments.
First the Lord continues His patient teaching to her about Himself. He gives her a glorious revelation in which He shows her that He is “the resurrection and the life”. As such, He is above death and is the life that cannot be affected by death. Even death has to give way to Him. Whoever believes in Him can die physically, but will live. Those who believe in Him have Him as their life (John 3:36). If such a person dies, then the life he has in the Son has not died, because this is eternal life.
When He says “I am the resurrection”, it means that there is no resurrection without Him. Even the unbelievers are resurrected by His power to be judged by Him. He is also “life” and that He is only for those who believe in Him. Whoever believes in Him receives life and possesses it for all eternity, even if he dies. He who lives physically and believes in the Son will not die for eternity, for he possesses the life of the Son of God through faith in Him. He who believes in the Son possesses life as resurrection life that has triumphed over death. For the believer, physical death is not dying, but sleeping, as the Lord said of Lazarus (John 11:11).
The Lord asks Martha if she believes that. He asks her to agree with His words. She gives an affirmative answer, an answer that is certainly true, but does not entirely answer what He asks. Certainly, He is the Christ, the Son of God Who would come into the world. But what He said to her points to a greater glory. He has come to give eternal life to those who believe which extends far beyond the glory of His reign in the realm of peace. Because of His rejection, the establishment of that realm in which He will reign as the Christ and the Son of God has been postponed. His revelation as the Son of the Father, however, can be stopped by nothing, but is seen in an especial way in the greatest opposition or difficulty.
John 13:2
Conversation of the Lord With Martha
When Martha hears that the Lord is coming, she goes to meet Him. She does not have the patience to wait for Him. Possibly this is because of her active character. Mary does not follow her in her going to the Lord, but stays at home. Mary is waiting for Him. She knows that He is coming and has everything in His hands which gives her peace.
When Martha has come to the Lord, she expresses her faith in His power that her brother would not have died if He had been present. Possibly there is some disappointment in her voice that He did not come immediately when they sent Him the message of Lazarus’ sickness. Yet there is also faith in Martha that He is capable of wonders. However, she appears to think more about the future, the resurrection on the last day, than that He will still do a wonder to Lazarus now.
When she expresses her faith in Him as the Messiah Who receives from God everything He would ask of Him, it is an expression of the limited faith she has in Him. The Lord Jesus is not only the Messiah Who gets everything He desires from God. He is also God the Son Who will raise up Lazarus in His own power and thereby give a testimony concerning His Person that is greater than that of Messiah. She speaks of “God” and “ask”, while He is the Son of God Who does not have to ask God because He is God the Son.
Nevertheless, the Lord does not rebuke Martha for her lacking honor to His Person. He follows His own course in the teaching He gives to her. He promises her that her brother will rise again. Martha answers in a way which shows that she only sees the Messiah in the Lord Jesus. She knows that her brother will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. The certainty she expresses belongs to the faith of the Old Testament (Job 19:26; Psalms 118:17; Daniel 12:2). However, she does not realize that He is able to raise the dead now and that He will demonstrate this in just a few moments.
First the Lord continues His patient teaching to her about Himself. He gives her a glorious revelation in which He shows her that He is “the resurrection and the life”. As such, He is above death and is the life that cannot be affected by death. Even death has to give way to Him. Whoever believes in Him can die physically, but will live. Those who believe in Him have Him as their life (John 3:36). If such a person dies, then the life he has in the Son has not died, because this is eternal life.
When He says “I am the resurrection”, it means that there is no resurrection without Him. Even the unbelievers are resurrected by His power to be judged by Him. He is also “life” and that He is only for those who believe in Him. Whoever believes in Him receives life and possesses it for all eternity, even if he dies. He who lives physically and believes in the Son will not die for eternity, for he possesses the life of the Son of God through faith in Him. He who believes in the Son possesses life as resurrection life that has triumphed over death. For the believer, physical death is not dying, but sleeping, as the Lord said of Lazarus (John 11:11).
The Lord asks Martha if she believes that. He asks her to agree with His words. She gives an affirmative answer, an answer that is certainly true, but does not entirely answer what He asks. Certainly, He is the Christ, the Son of God Who would come into the world. But what He said to her points to a greater glory. He has come to give eternal life to those who believe which extends far beyond the glory of His reign in the realm of peace. Because of His rejection, the establishment of that realm in which He will reign as the Christ and the Son of God has been postponed. His revelation as the Son of the Father, however, can be stopped by nothing, but is seen in an especial way in the greatest opposition or difficulty.
John 13:3
Conversation of the Lord With Martha
When Martha hears that the Lord is coming, she goes to meet Him. She does not have the patience to wait for Him. Possibly this is because of her active character. Mary does not follow her in her going to the Lord, but stays at home. Mary is waiting for Him. She knows that He is coming and has everything in His hands which gives her peace.
When Martha has come to the Lord, she expresses her faith in His power that her brother would not have died if He had been present. Possibly there is some disappointment in her voice that He did not come immediately when they sent Him the message of Lazarus’ sickness. Yet there is also faith in Martha that He is capable of wonders. However, she appears to think more about the future, the resurrection on the last day, than that He will still do a wonder to Lazarus now.
When she expresses her faith in Him as the Messiah Who receives from God everything He would ask of Him, it is an expression of the limited faith she has in Him. The Lord Jesus is not only the Messiah Who gets everything He desires from God. He is also God the Son Who will raise up Lazarus in His own power and thereby give a testimony concerning His Person that is greater than that of Messiah. She speaks of “God” and “ask”, while He is the Son of God Who does not have to ask God because He is God the Son.
Nevertheless, the Lord does not rebuke Martha for her lacking honor to His Person. He follows His own course in the teaching He gives to her. He promises her that her brother will rise again. Martha answers in a way which shows that she only sees the Messiah in the Lord Jesus. She knows that her brother will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. The certainty she expresses belongs to the faith of the Old Testament (Job 19:26; Psalms 118:17; Daniel 12:2). However, she does not realize that He is able to raise the dead now and that He will demonstrate this in just a few moments.
First the Lord continues His patient teaching to her about Himself. He gives her a glorious revelation in which He shows her that He is “the resurrection and the life”. As such, He is above death and is the life that cannot be affected by death. Even death has to give way to Him. Whoever believes in Him can die physically, but will live. Those who believe in Him have Him as their life (John 3:36). If such a person dies, then the life he has in the Son has not died, because this is eternal life.
When He says “I am the resurrection”, it means that there is no resurrection without Him. Even the unbelievers are resurrected by His power to be judged by Him. He is also “life” and that He is only for those who believe in Him. Whoever believes in Him receives life and possesses it for all eternity, even if he dies. He who lives physically and believes in the Son will not die for eternity, for he possesses the life of the Son of God through faith in Him. He who believes in the Son possesses life as resurrection life that has triumphed over death. For the believer, physical death is not dying, but sleeping, as the Lord said of Lazarus (John 11:11).
The Lord asks Martha if she believes that. He asks her to agree with His words. She gives an affirmative answer, an answer that is certainly true, but does not entirely answer what He asks. Certainly, He is the Christ, the Son of God Who would come into the world. But what He said to her points to a greater glory. He has come to give eternal life to those who believe which extends far beyond the glory of His reign in the realm of peace. Because of His rejection, the establishment of that realm in which He will reign as the Christ and the Son of God has been postponed. His revelation as the Son of the Father, however, can be stopped by nothing, but is seen in an especial way in the greatest opposition or difficulty.
John 13:4
Conversation of the Lord With Martha
When Martha hears that the Lord is coming, she goes to meet Him. She does not have the patience to wait for Him. Possibly this is because of her active character. Mary does not follow her in her going to the Lord, but stays at home. Mary is waiting for Him. She knows that He is coming and has everything in His hands which gives her peace.
When Martha has come to the Lord, she expresses her faith in His power that her brother would not have died if He had been present. Possibly there is some disappointment in her voice that He did not come immediately when they sent Him the message of Lazarus’ sickness. Yet there is also faith in Martha that He is capable of wonders. However, she appears to think more about the future, the resurrection on the last day, than that He will still do a wonder to Lazarus now.
When she expresses her faith in Him as the Messiah Who receives from God everything He would ask of Him, it is an expression of the limited faith she has in Him. The Lord Jesus is not only the Messiah Who gets everything He desires from God. He is also God the Son Who will raise up Lazarus in His own power and thereby give a testimony concerning His Person that is greater than that of Messiah. She speaks of “God” and “ask”, while He is the Son of God Who does not have to ask God because He is God the Son.
Nevertheless, the Lord does not rebuke Martha for her lacking honor to His Person. He follows His own course in the teaching He gives to her. He promises her that her brother will rise again. Martha answers in a way which shows that she only sees the Messiah in the Lord Jesus. She knows that her brother will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. The certainty she expresses belongs to the faith of the Old Testament (Job 19:26; Psalms 118:17; Daniel 12:2). However, she does not realize that He is able to raise the dead now and that He will demonstrate this in just a few moments.
First the Lord continues His patient teaching to her about Himself. He gives her a glorious revelation in which He shows her that He is “the resurrection and the life”. As such, He is above death and is the life that cannot be affected by death. Even death has to give way to Him. Whoever believes in Him can die physically, but will live. Those who believe in Him have Him as their life (John 3:36). If such a person dies, then the life he has in the Son has not died, because this is eternal life.
When He says “I am the resurrection”, it means that there is no resurrection without Him. Even the unbelievers are resurrected by His power to be judged by Him. He is also “life” and that He is only for those who believe in Him. Whoever believes in Him receives life and possesses it for all eternity, even if he dies. He who lives physically and believes in the Son will not die for eternity, for he possesses the life of the Son of God through faith in Him. He who believes in the Son possesses life as resurrection life that has triumphed over death. For the believer, physical death is not dying, but sleeping, as the Lord said of Lazarus (John 11:11).
The Lord asks Martha if she believes that. He asks her to agree with His words. She gives an affirmative answer, an answer that is certainly true, but does not entirely answer what He asks. Certainly, He is the Christ, the Son of God Who would come into the world. But what He said to her points to a greater glory. He has come to give eternal life to those who believe which extends far beyond the glory of His reign in the realm of peace. Because of His rejection, the establishment of that realm in which He will reign as the Christ and the Son of God has been postponed. His revelation as the Son of the Father, however, can be stopped by nothing, but is seen in an especial way in the greatest opposition or difficulty.
John 13:5
Conversation of the Lord With Martha
When Martha hears that the Lord is coming, she goes to meet Him. She does not have the patience to wait for Him. Possibly this is because of her active character. Mary does not follow her in her going to the Lord, but stays at home. Mary is waiting for Him. She knows that He is coming and has everything in His hands which gives her peace.
When Martha has come to the Lord, she expresses her faith in His power that her brother would not have died if He had been present. Possibly there is some disappointment in her voice that He did not come immediately when they sent Him the message of Lazarus’ sickness. Yet there is also faith in Martha that He is capable of wonders. However, she appears to think more about the future, the resurrection on the last day, than that He will still do a wonder to Lazarus now.
When she expresses her faith in Him as the Messiah Who receives from God everything He would ask of Him, it is an expression of the limited faith she has in Him. The Lord Jesus is not only the Messiah Who gets everything He desires from God. He is also God the Son Who will raise up Lazarus in His own power and thereby give a testimony concerning His Person that is greater than that of Messiah. She speaks of “God” and “ask”, while He is the Son of God Who does not have to ask God because He is God the Son.
Nevertheless, the Lord does not rebuke Martha for her lacking honor to His Person. He follows His own course in the teaching He gives to her. He promises her that her brother will rise again. Martha answers in a way which shows that she only sees the Messiah in the Lord Jesus. She knows that her brother will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. The certainty she expresses belongs to the faith of the Old Testament (Job 19:26; Psalms 118:17; Daniel 12:2). However, she does not realize that He is able to raise the dead now and that He will demonstrate this in just a few moments.
First the Lord continues His patient teaching to her about Himself. He gives her a glorious revelation in which He shows her that He is “the resurrection and the life”. As such, He is above death and is the life that cannot be affected by death. Even death has to give way to Him. Whoever believes in Him can die physically, but will live. Those who believe in Him have Him as their life (John 3:36). If such a person dies, then the life he has in the Son has not died, because this is eternal life.
When He says “I am the resurrection”, it means that there is no resurrection without Him. Even the unbelievers are resurrected by His power to be judged by Him. He is also “life” and that He is only for those who believe in Him. Whoever believes in Him receives life and possesses it for all eternity, even if he dies. He who lives physically and believes in the Son will not die for eternity, for he possesses the life of the Son of God through faith in Him. He who believes in the Son possesses life as resurrection life that has triumphed over death. For the believer, physical death is not dying, but sleeping, as the Lord said of Lazarus (John 11:11).
The Lord asks Martha if she believes that. He asks her to agree with His words. She gives an affirmative answer, an answer that is certainly true, but does not entirely answer what He asks. Certainly, He is the Christ, the Son of God Who would come into the world. But what He said to her points to a greater glory. He has come to give eternal life to those who believe which extends far beyond the glory of His reign in the realm of peace. Because of His rejection, the establishment of that realm in which He will reign as the Christ and the Son of God has been postponed. His revelation as the Son of the Father, however, can be stopped by nothing, but is seen in an especial way in the greatest opposition or difficulty.
John 13:6
Mary at the Feet of the Lord
Martha seems to feel, as it were, that what the Lord has said is beyond her spiritual comprehension, but that Mary has a feeling for it. In His words she has heard things of which she feels that Mary may understand better than she does.
It is also as if the words of the Lord are a call to Mary to come. This is how Martha seems to have understood them, because without a special command from the Lord she is going to call her sister Mary secretly, i.e. without the others noticing. She does so with words that reveal Mary’s special relationship with the Lord Jesus. He is the Teacher and has authority. He calls Mary to Himself.
Mary’s heart and feet respond immediately, just as anyone who lives in fellowship with the Lord will respond immediately when He calls. It is as though she has been waiting for that. She is not concerned with her grief, but with Christ. What a wonderful attitude it is to be so waiting for Christ and receive a word or a command from Him and move once it comes.
The Lord has still not arrived in the village, but is still at the place where Martha met Him. There she has heard beautiful things from Him, in which Mary was not present. That does not mean that she has to miss it, because she will come to the same place and will see the reality of His revelation to Martha.
The Jews did not hear what Martha said to her sister, because she said it secretly. If the Lord has a word for a single person, it is meant only for that single person. Others do not hear it. Others see the effect of it. So here too. The Jews who are in the house with Mary and console her, see Mary’s reaction to Martha’s words. When they see Mary leaving, they go after her. They think she is going to the tomb to weep.
Mary, however, is not busy with a deceased Lazarus, although she is full of grief about her brother’s death. She is busy with the Lord Jesus. She is not going to the place of death, but to the place of life, to Him Who is Life. She comes to the place where He is and sees Him. She speaks the same words as Martha, and in her confession of Christ she goes no further than Martha. She too believes that He could have prevented their brother from dying. But she utters those words as she lies at His feet, indicating how impressed she is by His glory. Further she says nothing and He says nothing to her either, contrary to what He did when He met Martha.
Between people who live in close fellowship with each other not many words are needed to understand each other. We always see Mary at the feet of the Lord. First for her education (Luke 10:39), then here where she brings her need to Him and finally to worship Him (John 12:3).
John 13:7
Mary at the Feet of the Lord
Martha seems to feel, as it were, that what the Lord has said is beyond her spiritual comprehension, but that Mary has a feeling for it. In His words she has heard things of which she feels that Mary may understand better than she does.
It is also as if the words of the Lord are a call to Mary to come. This is how Martha seems to have understood them, because without a special command from the Lord she is going to call her sister Mary secretly, i.e. without the others noticing. She does so with words that reveal Mary’s special relationship with the Lord Jesus. He is the Teacher and has authority. He calls Mary to Himself.
Mary’s heart and feet respond immediately, just as anyone who lives in fellowship with the Lord will respond immediately when He calls. It is as though she has been waiting for that. She is not concerned with her grief, but with Christ. What a wonderful attitude it is to be so waiting for Christ and receive a word or a command from Him and move once it comes.
The Lord has still not arrived in the village, but is still at the place where Martha met Him. There she has heard beautiful things from Him, in which Mary was not present. That does not mean that she has to miss it, because she will come to the same place and will see the reality of His revelation to Martha.
The Jews did not hear what Martha said to her sister, because she said it secretly. If the Lord has a word for a single person, it is meant only for that single person. Others do not hear it. Others see the effect of it. So here too. The Jews who are in the house with Mary and console her, see Mary’s reaction to Martha’s words. When they see Mary leaving, they go after her. They think she is going to the tomb to weep.
Mary, however, is not busy with a deceased Lazarus, although she is full of grief about her brother’s death. She is busy with the Lord Jesus. She is not going to the place of death, but to the place of life, to Him Who is Life. She comes to the place where He is and sees Him. She speaks the same words as Martha, and in her confession of Christ she goes no further than Martha. She too believes that He could have prevented their brother from dying. But she utters those words as she lies at His feet, indicating how impressed she is by His glory. Further she says nothing and He says nothing to her either, contrary to what He did when He met Martha.
Between people who live in close fellowship with each other not many words are needed to understand each other. We always see Mary at the feet of the Lord. First for her education (Luke 10:39), then here where she brings her need to Him and finally to worship Him (John 12:3).
John 13:8
Mary at the Feet of the Lord
Martha seems to feel, as it were, that what the Lord has said is beyond her spiritual comprehension, but that Mary has a feeling for it. In His words she has heard things of which she feels that Mary may understand better than she does.
It is also as if the words of the Lord are a call to Mary to come. This is how Martha seems to have understood them, because without a special command from the Lord she is going to call her sister Mary secretly, i.e. without the others noticing. She does so with words that reveal Mary’s special relationship with the Lord Jesus. He is the Teacher and has authority. He calls Mary to Himself.
Mary’s heart and feet respond immediately, just as anyone who lives in fellowship with the Lord will respond immediately when He calls. It is as though she has been waiting for that. She is not concerned with her grief, but with Christ. What a wonderful attitude it is to be so waiting for Christ and receive a word or a command from Him and move once it comes.
The Lord has still not arrived in the village, but is still at the place where Martha met Him. There she has heard beautiful things from Him, in which Mary was not present. That does not mean that she has to miss it, because she will come to the same place and will see the reality of His revelation to Martha.
The Jews did not hear what Martha said to her sister, because she said it secretly. If the Lord has a word for a single person, it is meant only for that single person. Others do not hear it. Others see the effect of it. So here too. The Jews who are in the house with Mary and console her, see Mary’s reaction to Martha’s words. When they see Mary leaving, they go after her. They think she is going to the tomb to weep.
Mary, however, is not busy with a deceased Lazarus, although she is full of grief about her brother’s death. She is busy with the Lord Jesus. She is not going to the place of death, but to the place of life, to Him Who is Life. She comes to the place where He is and sees Him. She speaks the same words as Martha, and in her confession of Christ she goes no further than Martha. She too believes that He could have prevented their brother from dying. But she utters those words as she lies at His feet, indicating how impressed she is by His glory. Further she says nothing and He says nothing to her either, contrary to what He did when He met Martha.
Between people who live in close fellowship with each other not many words are needed to understand each other. We always see Mary at the feet of the Lord. First for her education (Luke 10:39), then here where she brings her need to Him and finally to worship Him (John 12:3).
John 13:9
Mary at the Feet of the Lord
Martha seems to feel, as it were, that what the Lord has said is beyond her spiritual comprehension, but that Mary has a feeling for it. In His words she has heard things of which she feels that Mary may understand better than she does.
It is also as if the words of the Lord are a call to Mary to come. This is how Martha seems to have understood them, because without a special command from the Lord she is going to call her sister Mary secretly, i.e. without the others noticing. She does so with words that reveal Mary’s special relationship with the Lord Jesus. He is the Teacher and has authority. He calls Mary to Himself.
Mary’s heart and feet respond immediately, just as anyone who lives in fellowship with the Lord will respond immediately when He calls. It is as though she has been waiting for that. She is not concerned with her grief, but with Christ. What a wonderful attitude it is to be so waiting for Christ and receive a word or a command from Him and move once it comes.
The Lord has still not arrived in the village, but is still at the place where Martha met Him. There she has heard beautiful things from Him, in which Mary was not present. That does not mean that she has to miss it, because she will come to the same place and will see the reality of His revelation to Martha.
The Jews did not hear what Martha said to her sister, because she said it secretly. If the Lord has a word for a single person, it is meant only for that single person. Others do not hear it. Others see the effect of it. So here too. The Jews who are in the house with Mary and console her, see Mary’s reaction to Martha’s words. When they see Mary leaving, they go after her. They think she is going to the tomb to weep.
Mary, however, is not busy with a deceased Lazarus, although she is full of grief about her brother’s death. She is busy with the Lord Jesus. She is not going to the place of death, but to the place of life, to Him Who is Life. She comes to the place where He is and sees Him. She speaks the same words as Martha, and in her confession of Christ she goes no further than Martha. She too believes that He could have prevented their brother from dying. But she utters those words as she lies at His feet, indicating how impressed she is by His glory. Further she says nothing and He says nothing to her either, contrary to what He did when He met Martha.
Between people who live in close fellowship with each other not many words are needed to understand each other. We always see Mary at the feet of the Lord. First for her education (Luke 10:39), then here where she brings her need to Him and finally to worship Him (John 12:3).
John 13:10
Mary at the Feet of the Lord
Martha seems to feel, as it were, that what the Lord has said is beyond her spiritual comprehension, but that Mary has a feeling for it. In His words she has heard things of which she feels that Mary may understand better than she does.
It is also as if the words of the Lord are a call to Mary to come. This is how Martha seems to have understood them, because without a special command from the Lord she is going to call her sister Mary secretly, i.e. without the others noticing. She does so with words that reveal Mary’s special relationship with the Lord Jesus. He is the Teacher and has authority. He calls Mary to Himself.
Mary’s heart and feet respond immediately, just as anyone who lives in fellowship with the Lord will respond immediately when He calls. It is as though she has been waiting for that. She is not concerned with her grief, but with Christ. What a wonderful attitude it is to be so waiting for Christ and receive a word or a command from Him and move once it comes.
The Lord has still not arrived in the village, but is still at the place where Martha met Him. There she has heard beautiful things from Him, in which Mary was not present. That does not mean that she has to miss it, because she will come to the same place and will see the reality of His revelation to Martha.
The Jews did not hear what Martha said to her sister, because she said it secretly. If the Lord has a word for a single person, it is meant only for that single person. Others do not hear it. Others see the effect of it. So here too. The Jews who are in the house with Mary and console her, see Mary’s reaction to Martha’s words. When they see Mary leaving, they go after her. They think she is going to the tomb to weep.
Mary, however, is not busy with a deceased Lazarus, although she is full of grief about her brother’s death. She is busy with the Lord Jesus. She is not going to the place of death, but to the place of life, to Him Who is Life. She comes to the place where He is and sees Him. She speaks the same words as Martha, and in her confession of Christ she goes no further than Martha. She too believes that He could have prevented their brother from dying. But she utters those words as she lies at His feet, indicating how impressed she is by His glory. Further she says nothing and He says nothing to her either, contrary to what He did when He met Martha.
Between people who live in close fellowship with each other not many words are needed to understand each other. We always see Mary at the feet of the Lord. First for her education (Luke 10:39), then here where she brings her need to Him and finally to worship Him (John 12:3).
John 13:11
Jesus Wept
Although the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and although He knows that in a few moments He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He also has an eye for the sorrow that death brings. With Him it is more than just human compassion for the loss of a loved one, although it is also that. More than anyone else – and in fact, it is only the case with Him – He is indignant about the power of death. He fully senses the power of the enemy who exercises his authority through death, not only over Mary and the Jews, but over all human beings. His indignation concerns death. The words “deeply moved” means feeling or expressing a strong disapproval.
Then, although He knows where Lazarus lies, He asks the way to the tomb. If the Lord Jesus asks questions, it is not because He needs information from us. With His questions He wants to reveal the hidden part of the heart of the one He asks His questions to. He invites us to tell Him everything. We are allowed to take Him along to and in our grief. He wants to be there with us and go through it with us. His indignation about satan’s power through sin does not negate His sympathy (cf. Matthew 8:17). He never reveals only strength, nor is it only compassion. In His spirit He carries every case of sickness that He heals, whereas His power takes it away.
Here it is not about sickness, but about the even greater havoc death has wrought in a family He loves. That does not mean that He lets Himself be guided by His feelings. Feelings never have the upper hand with Him, as is often the case with us. Every feeling in Christ is perfect according to kind and measure, appropriate to every occasion. It is all perfect in God’s eye. How precious that is for us as well. The Lord really sheds tears that express His inner feelings.
The Jews deduce from His tears that He is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Certainly, the Lord loved Lazarus. This is also witnessed several times (John 11:3; 5). But they have no awareness that He weeps for death as the terrible consequence of sin. What matters to Him is the cause of death. That He feels like no other.
Some others don’t think the Lord’s weeping is really justified. He could have prevented Lazarus from dying, couldn’t He? Someone Who can open the eyes of the blind man could also have ensured that Lazarus would have recovered. In this way we can also reason when we wonder why the Lord heals the one, and the other He does not heal. Then it comes down to trusting Him in the way He goes with each of His sheep. We also know the answer from John 11:4.
John 13:12
Jesus Wept
Although the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and although He knows that in a few moments He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He also has an eye for the sorrow that death brings. With Him it is more than just human compassion for the loss of a loved one, although it is also that. More than anyone else – and in fact, it is only the case with Him – He is indignant about the power of death. He fully senses the power of the enemy who exercises his authority through death, not only over Mary and the Jews, but over all human beings. His indignation concerns death. The words “deeply moved” means feeling or expressing a strong disapproval.
Then, although He knows where Lazarus lies, He asks the way to the tomb. If the Lord Jesus asks questions, it is not because He needs information from us. With His questions He wants to reveal the hidden part of the heart of the one He asks His questions to. He invites us to tell Him everything. We are allowed to take Him along to and in our grief. He wants to be there with us and go through it with us. His indignation about satan’s power through sin does not negate His sympathy (cf. Matthew 8:17). He never reveals only strength, nor is it only compassion. In His spirit He carries every case of sickness that He heals, whereas His power takes it away.
Here it is not about sickness, but about the even greater havoc death has wrought in a family He loves. That does not mean that He lets Himself be guided by His feelings. Feelings never have the upper hand with Him, as is often the case with us. Every feeling in Christ is perfect according to kind and measure, appropriate to every occasion. It is all perfect in God’s eye. How precious that is for us as well. The Lord really sheds tears that express His inner feelings.
The Jews deduce from His tears that He is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Certainly, the Lord loved Lazarus. This is also witnessed several times (John 11:3; 5). But they have no awareness that He weeps for death as the terrible consequence of sin. What matters to Him is the cause of death. That He feels like no other.
Some others don’t think the Lord’s weeping is really justified. He could have prevented Lazarus from dying, couldn’t He? Someone Who can open the eyes of the blind man could also have ensured that Lazarus would have recovered. In this way we can also reason when we wonder why the Lord heals the one, and the other He does not heal. Then it comes down to trusting Him in the way He goes with each of His sheep. We also know the answer from John 11:4.
John 13:13
Jesus Wept
Although the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and although He knows that in a few moments He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He also has an eye for the sorrow that death brings. With Him it is more than just human compassion for the loss of a loved one, although it is also that. More than anyone else – and in fact, it is only the case with Him – He is indignant about the power of death. He fully senses the power of the enemy who exercises his authority through death, not only over Mary and the Jews, but over all human beings. His indignation concerns death. The words “deeply moved” means feeling or expressing a strong disapproval.
Then, although He knows where Lazarus lies, He asks the way to the tomb. If the Lord Jesus asks questions, it is not because He needs information from us. With His questions He wants to reveal the hidden part of the heart of the one He asks His questions to. He invites us to tell Him everything. We are allowed to take Him along to and in our grief. He wants to be there with us and go through it with us. His indignation about satan’s power through sin does not negate His sympathy (cf. Matthew 8:17). He never reveals only strength, nor is it only compassion. In His spirit He carries every case of sickness that He heals, whereas His power takes it away.
Here it is not about sickness, but about the even greater havoc death has wrought in a family He loves. That does not mean that He lets Himself be guided by His feelings. Feelings never have the upper hand with Him, as is often the case with us. Every feeling in Christ is perfect according to kind and measure, appropriate to every occasion. It is all perfect in God’s eye. How precious that is for us as well. The Lord really sheds tears that express His inner feelings.
The Jews deduce from His tears that He is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Certainly, the Lord loved Lazarus. This is also witnessed several times (John 11:3; 5). But they have no awareness that He weeps for death as the terrible consequence of sin. What matters to Him is the cause of death. That He feels like no other.
Some others don’t think the Lord’s weeping is really justified. He could have prevented Lazarus from dying, couldn’t He? Someone Who can open the eyes of the blind man could also have ensured that Lazarus would have recovered. In this way we can also reason when we wonder why the Lord heals the one, and the other He does not heal. Then it comes down to trusting Him in the way He goes with each of His sheep. We also know the answer from John 11:4.
John 13:14
Jesus Wept
Although the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and although He knows that in a few moments He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He also has an eye for the sorrow that death brings. With Him it is more than just human compassion for the loss of a loved one, although it is also that. More than anyone else – and in fact, it is only the case with Him – He is indignant about the power of death. He fully senses the power of the enemy who exercises his authority through death, not only over Mary and the Jews, but over all human beings. His indignation concerns death. The words “deeply moved” means feeling or expressing a strong disapproval.
Then, although He knows where Lazarus lies, He asks the way to the tomb. If the Lord Jesus asks questions, it is not because He needs information from us. With His questions He wants to reveal the hidden part of the heart of the one He asks His questions to. He invites us to tell Him everything. We are allowed to take Him along to and in our grief. He wants to be there with us and go through it with us. His indignation about satan’s power through sin does not negate His sympathy (cf. Matthew 8:17). He never reveals only strength, nor is it only compassion. In His spirit He carries every case of sickness that He heals, whereas His power takes it away.
Here it is not about sickness, but about the even greater havoc death has wrought in a family He loves. That does not mean that He lets Himself be guided by His feelings. Feelings never have the upper hand with Him, as is often the case with us. Every feeling in Christ is perfect according to kind and measure, appropriate to every occasion. It is all perfect in God’s eye. How precious that is for us as well. The Lord really sheds tears that express His inner feelings.
The Jews deduce from His tears that He is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Certainly, the Lord loved Lazarus. This is also witnessed several times (John 11:3; 5). But they have no awareness that He weeps for death as the terrible consequence of sin. What matters to Him is the cause of death. That He feels like no other.
Some others don’t think the Lord’s weeping is really justified. He could have prevented Lazarus from dying, couldn’t He? Someone Who can open the eyes of the blind man could also have ensured that Lazarus would have recovered. In this way we can also reason when we wonder why the Lord heals the one, and the other He does not heal. Then it comes down to trusting Him in the way He goes with each of His sheep. We also know the answer from John 11:4.
John 13:15
Jesus Wept
Although the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and although He knows that in a few moments He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He also has an eye for the sorrow that death brings. With Him it is more than just human compassion for the loss of a loved one, although it is also that. More than anyone else – and in fact, it is only the case with Him – He is indignant about the power of death. He fully senses the power of the enemy who exercises his authority through death, not only over Mary and the Jews, but over all human beings. His indignation concerns death. The words “deeply moved” means feeling or expressing a strong disapproval.
Then, although He knows where Lazarus lies, He asks the way to the tomb. If the Lord Jesus asks questions, it is not because He needs information from us. With His questions He wants to reveal the hidden part of the heart of the one He asks His questions to. He invites us to tell Him everything. We are allowed to take Him along to and in our grief. He wants to be there with us and go through it with us. His indignation about satan’s power through sin does not negate His sympathy (cf. Matthew 8:17). He never reveals only strength, nor is it only compassion. In His spirit He carries every case of sickness that He heals, whereas His power takes it away.
Here it is not about sickness, but about the even greater havoc death has wrought in a family He loves. That does not mean that He lets Himself be guided by His feelings. Feelings never have the upper hand with Him, as is often the case with us. Every feeling in Christ is perfect according to kind and measure, appropriate to every occasion. It is all perfect in God’s eye. How precious that is for us as well. The Lord really sheds tears that express His inner feelings.
The Jews deduce from His tears that He is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Certainly, the Lord loved Lazarus. This is also witnessed several times (John 11:3; 5). But they have no awareness that He weeps for death as the terrible consequence of sin. What matters to Him is the cause of death. That He feels like no other.
Some others don’t think the Lord’s weeping is really justified. He could have prevented Lazarus from dying, couldn’t He? Someone Who can open the eyes of the blind man could also have ensured that Lazarus would have recovered. In this way we can also reason when we wonder why the Lord heals the one, and the other He does not heal. Then it comes down to trusting Him in the way He goes with each of His sheep. We also know the answer from John 11:4.
John 13:16
The Lord Calls Lazarus to Come Forth
The Lord does not appear as an unmoved great one with the self-assurance of an almighty at the tomb. When He gets there, He again is deeply moved within. He was that when He saw the effect of death’s power in the sorrow of the sisters and the others (John 11:33). Here He is in the direct presence of death itself.
The tomb is in a cave of which the opening is closed with a stone. The Lord commands the stone to be removed. He Himself could have removed the stone or by some wonder cause it to roll away. He does not do that. We always see that He never takes from people what they themselves can do. He always engages people when something has to happen that they can do themselves. He takes care of the impossible, that which people cannot do.
Martha thinks she has to remark that removing the stone paves the way for the stench of a decaying body. She thinks that the only consequence of the removing of the stone is that they are all again emphatically confronted with the deceased Lazarus in a very unpleasant way. She soon forgot what He said. The Lord lovingly reminds her of this and encourages her to believe. It is a lesson for us to heed the Word in faith. We will reap the fruit of such faith. That fruit is to see the glory of God.
People obey the Lord’s command and remove the stone. Then He first raises His eyes and thanks His Father. He does not immediately call out Lazarus. First He shows His deep dependence on His Father in expressing His thanks to Him that He heard Him even before He called Lazarus to life.
The Lord expresses His complete trust in the Father as the One Who always hears Him. He does not do this for Himself, but for the sake of the crowd around Him. His great goal is always to bear witness to the Father Who sent Him and that they will believe in Him. In turn, the Father’s purpose in doing so is to glorify His Son in it. He receives this glorification from the Father because He always does what is pleasing to Him.
After He has spoken to the Father in the presence of the crowd, He raises His voice and calls out Lazarus. The Lord Jesus ‘cries out’ several times in this Gospel. The first time it is a crying out to come to Him and believe in Him (John 7:37). That is the call of the gospel. The second time is here, a crying out to the dead. We can link this to the power of the Lord’s voice to bring to life the spiritual dead (John 5:25). The third time is a final crying out to the people to believe in Him (John 12:44).
At the cry of command of the Lord, “the man who had died” comes forth. Lazarus is emphatically referred to as “the man who had died” in order to put all the emphasis on making a dead person alive. The dead person comes forth because he heard the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). There Lazarus comes walking out of the tomb, while the wrapping and sweat cloth are still on him. Everything that reminds us of death is still with him, but he himself is alive.
Then the Lord says that Lazarus must be freed from his tomb cloth and sweat cloth. Again we see that He gives an order to others. He not only gives life, but He also gives freedom. From a spiritual point of view this liberation is the teaching from the Word of God that teachers give to the newly converted. In this way a person who has come to repentance learns to give up everything that belongs to his old life, what belongs to death, so that he can go his way in freedom for the Lord.
John 13:17
The Lord Calls Lazarus to Come Forth
The Lord does not appear as an unmoved great one with the self-assurance of an almighty at the tomb. When He gets there, He again is deeply moved within. He was that when He saw the effect of death’s power in the sorrow of the sisters and the others (John 11:33). Here He is in the direct presence of death itself.
The tomb is in a cave of which the opening is closed with a stone. The Lord commands the stone to be removed. He Himself could have removed the stone or by some wonder cause it to roll away. He does not do that. We always see that He never takes from people what they themselves can do. He always engages people when something has to happen that they can do themselves. He takes care of the impossible, that which people cannot do.
Martha thinks she has to remark that removing the stone paves the way for the stench of a decaying body. She thinks that the only consequence of the removing of the stone is that they are all again emphatically confronted with the deceased Lazarus in a very unpleasant way. She soon forgot what He said. The Lord lovingly reminds her of this and encourages her to believe. It is a lesson for us to heed the Word in faith. We will reap the fruit of such faith. That fruit is to see the glory of God.
People obey the Lord’s command and remove the stone. Then He first raises His eyes and thanks His Father. He does not immediately call out Lazarus. First He shows His deep dependence on His Father in expressing His thanks to Him that He heard Him even before He called Lazarus to life.
The Lord expresses His complete trust in the Father as the One Who always hears Him. He does not do this for Himself, but for the sake of the crowd around Him. His great goal is always to bear witness to the Father Who sent Him and that they will believe in Him. In turn, the Father’s purpose in doing so is to glorify His Son in it. He receives this glorification from the Father because He always does what is pleasing to Him.
After He has spoken to the Father in the presence of the crowd, He raises His voice and calls out Lazarus. The Lord Jesus ‘cries out’ several times in this Gospel. The first time it is a crying out to come to Him and believe in Him (John 7:37). That is the call of the gospel. The second time is here, a crying out to the dead. We can link this to the power of the Lord’s voice to bring to life the spiritual dead (John 5:25). The third time is a final crying out to the people to believe in Him (John 12:44).
At the cry of command of the Lord, “the man who had died” comes forth. Lazarus is emphatically referred to as “the man who had died” in order to put all the emphasis on making a dead person alive. The dead person comes forth because he heard the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). There Lazarus comes walking out of the tomb, while the wrapping and sweat cloth are still on him. Everything that reminds us of death is still with him, but he himself is alive.
Then the Lord says that Lazarus must be freed from his tomb cloth and sweat cloth. Again we see that He gives an order to others. He not only gives life, but He also gives freedom. From a spiritual point of view this liberation is the teaching from the Word of God that teachers give to the newly converted. In this way a person who has come to repentance learns to give up everything that belongs to his old life, what belongs to death, so that he can go his way in freedom for the Lord.
John 13:18
The Lord Calls Lazarus to Come Forth
The Lord does not appear as an unmoved great one with the self-assurance of an almighty at the tomb. When He gets there, He again is deeply moved within. He was that when He saw the effect of death’s power in the sorrow of the sisters and the others (John 11:33). Here He is in the direct presence of death itself.
The tomb is in a cave of which the opening is closed with a stone. The Lord commands the stone to be removed. He Himself could have removed the stone or by some wonder cause it to roll away. He does not do that. We always see that He never takes from people what they themselves can do. He always engages people when something has to happen that they can do themselves. He takes care of the impossible, that which people cannot do.
Martha thinks she has to remark that removing the stone paves the way for the stench of a decaying body. She thinks that the only consequence of the removing of the stone is that they are all again emphatically confronted with the deceased Lazarus in a very unpleasant way. She soon forgot what He said. The Lord lovingly reminds her of this and encourages her to believe. It is a lesson for us to heed the Word in faith. We will reap the fruit of such faith. That fruit is to see the glory of God.
People obey the Lord’s command and remove the stone. Then He first raises His eyes and thanks His Father. He does not immediately call out Lazarus. First He shows His deep dependence on His Father in expressing His thanks to Him that He heard Him even before He called Lazarus to life.
The Lord expresses His complete trust in the Father as the One Who always hears Him. He does not do this for Himself, but for the sake of the crowd around Him. His great goal is always to bear witness to the Father Who sent Him and that they will believe in Him. In turn, the Father’s purpose in doing so is to glorify His Son in it. He receives this glorification from the Father because He always does what is pleasing to Him.
After He has spoken to the Father in the presence of the crowd, He raises His voice and calls out Lazarus. The Lord Jesus ‘cries out’ several times in this Gospel. The first time it is a crying out to come to Him and believe in Him (John 7:37). That is the call of the gospel. The second time is here, a crying out to the dead. We can link this to the power of the Lord’s voice to bring to life the spiritual dead (John 5:25). The third time is a final crying out to the people to believe in Him (John 12:44).
At the cry of command of the Lord, “the man who had died” comes forth. Lazarus is emphatically referred to as “the man who had died” in order to put all the emphasis on making a dead person alive. The dead person comes forth because he heard the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). There Lazarus comes walking out of the tomb, while the wrapping and sweat cloth are still on him. Everything that reminds us of death is still with him, but he himself is alive.
Then the Lord says that Lazarus must be freed from his tomb cloth and sweat cloth. Again we see that He gives an order to others. He not only gives life, but He also gives freedom. From a spiritual point of view this liberation is the teaching from the Word of God that teachers give to the newly converted. In this way a person who has come to repentance learns to give up everything that belongs to his old life, what belongs to death, so that he can go his way in freedom for the Lord.
John 13:19
The Lord Calls Lazarus to Come Forth
The Lord does not appear as an unmoved great one with the self-assurance of an almighty at the tomb. When He gets there, He again is deeply moved within. He was that when He saw the effect of death’s power in the sorrow of the sisters and the others (John 11:33). Here He is in the direct presence of death itself.
The tomb is in a cave of which the opening is closed with a stone. The Lord commands the stone to be removed. He Himself could have removed the stone or by some wonder cause it to roll away. He does not do that. We always see that He never takes from people what they themselves can do. He always engages people when something has to happen that they can do themselves. He takes care of the impossible, that which people cannot do.
Martha thinks she has to remark that removing the stone paves the way for the stench of a decaying body. She thinks that the only consequence of the removing of the stone is that they are all again emphatically confronted with the deceased Lazarus in a very unpleasant way. She soon forgot what He said. The Lord lovingly reminds her of this and encourages her to believe. It is a lesson for us to heed the Word in faith. We will reap the fruit of such faith. That fruit is to see the glory of God.
People obey the Lord’s command and remove the stone. Then He first raises His eyes and thanks His Father. He does not immediately call out Lazarus. First He shows His deep dependence on His Father in expressing His thanks to Him that He heard Him even before He called Lazarus to life.
The Lord expresses His complete trust in the Father as the One Who always hears Him. He does not do this for Himself, but for the sake of the crowd around Him. His great goal is always to bear witness to the Father Who sent Him and that they will believe in Him. In turn, the Father’s purpose in doing so is to glorify His Son in it. He receives this glorification from the Father because He always does what is pleasing to Him.
After He has spoken to the Father in the presence of the crowd, He raises His voice and calls out Lazarus. The Lord Jesus ‘cries out’ several times in this Gospel. The first time it is a crying out to come to Him and believe in Him (John 7:37). That is the call of the gospel. The second time is here, a crying out to the dead. We can link this to the power of the Lord’s voice to bring to life the spiritual dead (John 5:25). The third time is a final crying out to the people to believe in Him (John 12:44).
At the cry of command of the Lord, “the man who had died” comes forth. Lazarus is emphatically referred to as “the man who had died” in order to put all the emphasis on making a dead person alive. The dead person comes forth because he heard the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). There Lazarus comes walking out of the tomb, while the wrapping and sweat cloth are still on him. Everything that reminds us of death is still with him, but he himself is alive.
Then the Lord says that Lazarus must be freed from his tomb cloth and sweat cloth. Again we see that He gives an order to others. He not only gives life, but He also gives freedom. From a spiritual point of view this liberation is the teaching from the Word of God that teachers give to the newly converted. In this way a person who has come to repentance learns to give up everything that belongs to his old life, what belongs to death, so that he can go his way in freedom for the Lord.
John 13:20
The Lord Calls Lazarus to Come Forth
The Lord does not appear as an unmoved great one with the self-assurance of an almighty at the tomb. When He gets there, He again is deeply moved within. He was that when He saw the effect of death’s power in the sorrow of the sisters and the others (John 11:33). Here He is in the direct presence of death itself.
The tomb is in a cave of which the opening is closed with a stone. The Lord commands the stone to be removed. He Himself could have removed the stone or by some wonder cause it to roll away. He does not do that. We always see that He never takes from people what they themselves can do. He always engages people when something has to happen that they can do themselves. He takes care of the impossible, that which people cannot do.
Martha thinks she has to remark that removing the stone paves the way for the stench of a decaying body. She thinks that the only consequence of the removing of the stone is that they are all again emphatically confronted with the deceased Lazarus in a very unpleasant way. She soon forgot what He said. The Lord lovingly reminds her of this and encourages her to believe. It is a lesson for us to heed the Word in faith. We will reap the fruit of such faith. That fruit is to see the glory of God.
People obey the Lord’s command and remove the stone. Then He first raises His eyes and thanks His Father. He does not immediately call out Lazarus. First He shows His deep dependence on His Father in expressing His thanks to Him that He heard Him even before He called Lazarus to life.
The Lord expresses His complete trust in the Father as the One Who always hears Him. He does not do this for Himself, but for the sake of the crowd around Him. His great goal is always to bear witness to the Father Who sent Him and that they will believe in Him. In turn, the Father’s purpose in doing so is to glorify His Son in it. He receives this glorification from the Father because He always does what is pleasing to Him.
After He has spoken to the Father in the presence of the crowd, He raises His voice and calls out Lazarus. The Lord Jesus ‘cries out’ several times in this Gospel. The first time it is a crying out to come to Him and believe in Him (John 7:37). That is the call of the gospel. The second time is here, a crying out to the dead. We can link this to the power of the Lord’s voice to bring to life the spiritual dead (John 5:25). The third time is a final crying out to the people to believe in Him (John 12:44).
At the cry of command of the Lord, “the man who had died” comes forth. Lazarus is emphatically referred to as “the man who had died” in order to put all the emphasis on making a dead person alive. The dead person comes forth because he heard the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). There Lazarus comes walking out of the tomb, while the wrapping and sweat cloth are still on him. Everything that reminds us of death is still with him, but he himself is alive.
Then the Lord says that Lazarus must be freed from his tomb cloth and sweat cloth. Again we see that He gives an order to others. He not only gives life, but He also gives freedom. From a spiritual point of view this liberation is the teaching from the Word of God that teachers give to the newly converted. In this way a person who has come to repentance learns to give up everything that belongs to his old life, what belongs to death, so that he can go his way in freedom for the Lord.
John 13:21
The Lord Calls Lazarus to Come Forth
The Lord does not appear as an unmoved great one with the self-assurance of an almighty at the tomb. When He gets there, He again is deeply moved within. He was that when He saw the effect of death’s power in the sorrow of the sisters and the others (John 11:33). Here He is in the direct presence of death itself.
The tomb is in a cave of which the opening is closed with a stone. The Lord commands the stone to be removed. He Himself could have removed the stone or by some wonder cause it to roll away. He does not do that. We always see that He never takes from people what they themselves can do. He always engages people when something has to happen that they can do themselves. He takes care of the impossible, that which people cannot do.
Martha thinks she has to remark that removing the stone paves the way for the stench of a decaying body. She thinks that the only consequence of the removing of the stone is that they are all again emphatically confronted with the deceased Lazarus in a very unpleasant way. She soon forgot what He said. The Lord lovingly reminds her of this and encourages her to believe. It is a lesson for us to heed the Word in faith. We will reap the fruit of such faith. That fruit is to see the glory of God.
People obey the Lord’s command and remove the stone. Then He first raises His eyes and thanks His Father. He does not immediately call out Lazarus. First He shows His deep dependence on His Father in expressing His thanks to Him that He heard Him even before He called Lazarus to life.
The Lord expresses His complete trust in the Father as the One Who always hears Him. He does not do this for Himself, but for the sake of the crowd around Him. His great goal is always to bear witness to the Father Who sent Him and that they will believe in Him. In turn, the Father’s purpose in doing so is to glorify His Son in it. He receives this glorification from the Father because He always does what is pleasing to Him.
After He has spoken to the Father in the presence of the crowd, He raises His voice and calls out Lazarus. The Lord Jesus ‘cries out’ several times in this Gospel. The first time it is a crying out to come to Him and believe in Him (John 7:37). That is the call of the gospel. The second time is here, a crying out to the dead. We can link this to the power of the Lord’s voice to bring to life the spiritual dead (John 5:25). The third time is a final crying out to the people to believe in Him (John 12:44).
At the cry of command of the Lord, “the man who had died” comes forth. Lazarus is emphatically referred to as “the man who had died” in order to put all the emphasis on making a dead person alive. The dead person comes forth because he heard the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). There Lazarus comes walking out of the tomb, while the wrapping and sweat cloth are still on him. Everything that reminds us of death is still with him, but he himself is alive.
Then the Lord says that Lazarus must be freed from his tomb cloth and sweat cloth. Again we see that He gives an order to others. He not only gives life, but He also gives freedom. From a spiritual point of view this liberation is the teaching from the Word of God that teachers give to the newly converted. In this way a person who has come to repentance learns to give up everything that belongs to his old life, what belongs to death, so that he can go his way in freedom for the Lord.
John 13:22
The Lord Calls Lazarus to Come Forth
The Lord does not appear as an unmoved great one with the self-assurance of an almighty at the tomb. When He gets there, He again is deeply moved within. He was that when He saw the effect of death’s power in the sorrow of the sisters and the others (John 11:33). Here He is in the direct presence of death itself.
The tomb is in a cave of which the opening is closed with a stone. The Lord commands the stone to be removed. He Himself could have removed the stone or by some wonder cause it to roll away. He does not do that. We always see that He never takes from people what they themselves can do. He always engages people when something has to happen that they can do themselves. He takes care of the impossible, that which people cannot do.
Martha thinks she has to remark that removing the stone paves the way for the stench of a decaying body. She thinks that the only consequence of the removing of the stone is that they are all again emphatically confronted with the deceased Lazarus in a very unpleasant way. She soon forgot what He said. The Lord lovingly reminds her of this and encourages her to believe. It is a lesson for us to heed the Word in faith. We will reap the fruit of such faith. That fruit is to see the glory of God.
People obey the Lord’s command and remove the stone. Then He first raises His eyes and thanks His Father. He does not immediately call out Lazarus. First He shows His deep dependence on His Father in expressing His thanks to Him that He heard Him even before He called Lazarus to life.
The Lord expresses His complete trust in the Father as the One Who always hears Him. He does not do this for Himself, but for the sake of the crowd around Him. His great goal is always to bear witness to the Father Who sent Him and that they will believe in Him. In turn, the Father’s purpose in doing so is to glorify His Son in it. He receives this glorification from the Father because He always does what is pleasing to Him.
After He has spoken to the Father in the presence of the crowd, He raises His voice and calls out Lazarus. The Lord Jesus ‘cries out’ several times in this Gospel. The first time it is a crying out to come to Him and believe in Him (John 7:37). That is the call of the gospel. The second time is here, a crying out to the dead. We can link this to the power of the Lord’s voice to bring to life the spiritual dead (John 5:25). The third time is a final crying out to the people to believe in Him (John 12:44).
At the cry of command of the Lord, “the man who had died” comes forth. Lazarus is emphatically referred to as “the man who had died” in order to put all the emphasis on making a dead person alive. The dead person comes forth because he heard the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). There Lazarus comes walking out of the tomb, while the wrapping and sweat cloth are still on him. Everything that reminds us of death is still with him, but he himself is alive.
Then the Lord says that Lazarus must be freed from his tomb cloth and sweat cloth. Again we see that He gives an order to others. He not only gives life, but He also gives freedom. From a spiritual point of view this liberation is the teaching from the Word of God that teachers give to the newly converted. In this way a person who has come to repentance learns to give up everything that belongs to his old life, what belongs to death, so that he can go his way in freedom for the Lord.
John 13:23
Responses to the Resurrection
Through Mary many have come into contact with Christ. It is beautiful when by our going to the Lord others come in contact with Him. Many of the Jews have seen what He has done and therefore believe in Him. As mentioned before, that does not necessarily mean that they acknowledge Him as their Savior. The most obvious is that they are attracted to Him by the wonder as Someone Who can transform their earthly, bodily need into prosperity.
However, there are also Jews who go to the Pharisees to tell them what He has done. They have seen it too, but they don’t want to believe that there is Someone at work here Who has their best interests at heart. They prefer to be appreciated by the Pharisees. The message of the witnesses sets the chief priests and Pharisees in motion. They convene a council to deliberate what they should do. They rightly conclude that the Lord does many signs. Only they do not want to accept them, because they see in these signs a great threat to their position of authority among the people.
Here we see that the question and remark of the rich man in Hades to send someone from the dead to his brothers and that they would then believe, is not justified and Abraham’s answer is (Luke 16:30-31). Someone from the dead has come back into life here, but they don’t believe. These people only care about maintaining their own place of honor and authority among the people.
They discuss that all of them would believe in Him if they let Him go on. That new Leader would then become the cause for the Romans to come to put an end to this gathering. In the first place that would result in them losing their place – by which they meant their position or perhaps also the temple from which they derived that position. The second consequence would be that they would lose their people. They talk about ‘our’ place and about ‘our’ people. There is no thought of God.
John 13:24
Responses to the Resurrection
Through Mary many have come into contact with Christ. It is beautiful when by our going to the Lord others come in contact with Him. Many of the Jews have seen what He has done and therefore believe in Him. As mentioned before, that does not necessarily mean that they acknowledge Him as their Savior. The most obvious is that they are attracted to Him by the wonder as Someone Who can transform their earthly, bodily need into prosperity.
However, there are also Jews who go to the Pharisees to tell them what He has done. They have seen it too, but they don’t want to believe that there is Someone at work here Who has their best interests at heart. They prefer to be appreciated by the Pharisees. The message of the witnesses sets the chief priests and Pharisees in motion. They convene a council to deliberate what they should do. They rightly conclude that the Lord does many signs. Only they do not want to accept them, because they see in these signs a great threat to their position of authority among the people.
Here we see that the question and remark of the rich man in Hades to send someone from the dead to his brothers and that they would then believe, is not justified and Abraham’s answer is (Luke 16:30-31). Someone from the dead has come back into life here, but they don’t believe. These people only care about maintaining their own place of honor and authority among the people.
They discuss that all of them would believe in Him if they let Him go on. That new Leader would then become the cause for the Romans to come to put an end to this gathering. In the first place that would result in them losing their place – by which they meant their position or perhaps also the temple from which they derived that position. The second consequence would be that they would lose their people. They talk about ‘our’ place and about ‘our’ people. There is no thought of God.
John 13:25
Responses to the Resurrection
Through Mary many have come into contact with Christ. It is beautiful when by our going to the Lord others come in contact with Him. Many of the Jews have seen what He has done and therefore believe in Him. As mentioned before, that does not necessarily mean that they acknowledge Him as their Savior. The most obvious is that they are attracted to Him by the wonder as Someone Who can transform their earthly, bodily need into prosperity.
However, there are also Jews who go to the Pharisees to tell them what He has done. They have seen it too, but they don’t want to believe that there is Someone at work here Who has their best interests at heart. They prefer to be appreciated by the Pharisees. The message of the witnesses sets the chief priests and Pharisees in motion. They convene a council to deliberate what they should do. They rightly conclude that the Lord does many signs. Only they do not want to accept them, because they see in these signs a great threat to their position of authority among the people.
Here we see that the question and remark of the rich man in Hades to send someone from the dead to his brothers and that they would then believe, is not justified and Abraham’s answer is (Luke 16:30-31). Someone from the dead has come back into life here, but they don’t believe. These people only care about maintaining their own place of honor and authority among the people.
They discuss that all of them would believe in Him if they let Him go on. That new Leader would then become the cause for the Romans to come to put an end to this gathering. In the first place that would result in them losing their place – by which they meant their position or perhaps also the temple from which they derived that position. The second consequence would be that they would lose their people. They talk about ‘our’ place and about ‘our’ people. There is no thought of God.
John 13:26
Responses to the Resurrection
Through Mary many have come into contact with Christ. It is beautiful when by our going to the Lord others come in contact with Him. Many of the Jews have seen what He has done and therefore believe in Him. As mentioned before, that does not necessarily mean that they acknowledge Him as their Savior. The most obvious is that they are attracted to Him by the wonder as Someone Who can transform their earthly, bodily need into prosperity.
However, there are also Jews who go to the Pharisees to tell them what He has done. They have seen it too, but they don’t want to believe that there is Someone at work here Who has their best interests at heart. They prefer to be appreciated by the Pharisees. The message of the witnesses sets the chief priests and Pharisees in motion. They convene a council to deliberate what they should do. They rightly conclude that the Lord does many signs. Only they do not want to accept them, because they see in these signs a great threat to their position of authority among the people.
Here we see that the question and remark of the rich man in Hades to send someone from the dead to his brothers and that they would then believe, is not justified and Abraham’s answer is (Luke 16:30-31). Someone from the dead has come back into life here, but they don’t believe. These people only care about maintaining their own place of honor and authority among the people.
They discuss that all of them would believe in Him if they let Him go on. That new Leader would then become the cause for the Romans to come to put an end to this gathering. In the first place that would result in them losing their place – by which they meant their position or perhaps also the temple from which they derived that position. The second consequence would be that they would lose their people. They talk about ‘our’ place and about ‘our’ people. There is no thought of God.
John 13:27
The Prophecy of Caiaphas
The president of the council is the high priest Caiaphas. It is his turn this year. The annual change of the high priesthood shows how much the priesthood has deviated from God’s original purpose. While they deliberate, Caiaphas opens his mouth and makes a wise statement. He states that his fellow councilors talk out of ignorance. They should not launch wild thoughts about their fear of losing their place and their people. It is all much simpler: Jesus just has to die. If He dies, the problem is solved. Then they can keep their place and nothing will happen to the people.
The Spirit of God then notes that this ‘cleverness’ of the high priest is an unintentional but no less true prophecy about the death of Christ. The Spirit of God uses the mouth of Caiaphas to speak a prophecy. Similarly, the Spirit also used the mouth of an ungodly Balaam to speak the most beautiful prophecies about the people (Numbers 23-24). The Lord Jesus would indeed die for the people. Thus their thoughts of evil would be turned by God for the good of the people (Genesis 50:20).
God’s plans with the death of His Son go even further. He will not only die for the people, but through His death He will unite the children of God who are scattered abroad. The scattered children of God are others than the Jewish sheep (John 10:16). That unity has become a fact in the church of God in the New Testament.
Before the time of the church, which came into existence in Acts 2 (Acts 2:1-4), there was no unity of all believers around the world. The only unity there was, was that of Israel. This was a national unity. That does not mean that all in Israel were children of God. In addition, also outside of Israel were believers, but they were outside the blessings of God’s people. They had never become one. This only happened when the Lord Jesus gave His life and He was glorified and then gave the Holy Spirit Who formed this unity. That unity is based on the death of Christ.
John 13:28
The Prophecy of Caiaphas
The president of the council is the high priest Caiaphas. It is his turn this year. The annual change of the high priesthood shows how much the priesthood has deviated from God’s original purpose. While they deliberate, Caiaphas opens his mouth and makes a wise statement. He states that his fellow councilors talk out of ignorance. They should not launch wild thoughts about their fear of losing their place and their people. It is all much simpler: Jesus just has to die. If He dies, the problem is solved. Then they can keep their place and nothing will happen to the people.
The Spirit of God then notes that this ‘cleverness’ of the high priest is an unintentional but no less true prophecy about the death of Christ. The Spirit of God uses the mouth of Caiaphas to speak a prophecy. Similarly, the Spirit also used the mouth of an ungodly Balaam to speak the most beautiful prophecies about the people (Numbers 23-24). The Lord Jesus would indeed die for the people. Thus their thoughts of evil would be turned by God for the good of the people (Genesis 50:20).
God’s plans with the death of His Son go even further. He will not only die for the people, but through His death He will unite the children of God who are scattered abroad. The scattered children of God are others than the Jewish sheep (John 10:16). That unity has become a fact in the church of God in the New Testament.
Before the time of the church, which came into existence in Acts 2 (Acts 2:1-4), there was no unity of all believers around the world. The only unity there was, was that of Israel. This was a national unity. That does not mean that all in Israel were children of God. In addition, also outside of Israel were believers, but they were outside the blessings of God’s people. They had never become one. This only happened when the Lord Jesus gave His life and He was glorified and then gave the Holy Spirit Who formed this unity. That unity is based on the death of Christ.
John 13:29
The Prophecy of Caiaphas
The president of the council is the high priest Caiaphas. It is his turn this year. The annual change of the high priesthood shows how much the priesthood has deviated from God’s original purpose. While they deliberate, Caiaphas opens his mouth and makes a wise statement. He states that his fellow councilors talk out of ignorance. They should not launch wild thoughts about their fear of losing their place and their people. It is all much simpler: Jesus just has to die. If He dies, the problem is solved. Then they can keep their place and nothing will happen to the people.
The Spirit of God then notes that this ‘cleverness’ of the high priest is an unintentional but no less true prophecy about the death of Christ. The Spirit of God uses the mouth of Caiaphas to speak a prophecy. Similarly, the Spirit also used the mouth of an ungodly Balaam to speak the most beautiful prophecies about the people (Numbers 23-24). The Lord Jesus would indeed die for the people. Thus their thoughts of evil would be turned by God for the good of the people (Genesis 50:20).
God’s plans with the death of His Son go even further. He will not only die for the people, but through His death He will unite the children of God who are scattered abroad. The scattered children of God are others than the Jewish sheep (John 10:16). That unity has become a fact in the church of God in the New Testament.
Before the time of the church, which came into existence in Acts 2 (Acts 2:1-4), there was no unity of all believers around the world. The only unity there was, was that of Israel. This was a national unity. That does not mean that all in Israel were children of God. In addition, also outside of Israel were believers, but they were outside the blessings of God’s people. They had never become one. This only happened when the Lord Jesus gave His life and He was glorified and then gave the Holy Spirit Who formed this unity. That unity is based on the death of Christ.
John 13:30
The Prophecy of Caiaphas
The president of the council is the high priest Caiaphas. It is his turn this year. The annual change of the high priesthood shows how much the priesthood has deviated from God’s original purpose. While they deliberate, Caiaphas opens his mouth and makes a wise statement. He states that his fellow councilors talk out of ignorance. They should not launch wild thoughts about their fear of losing their place and their people. It is all much simpler: Jesus just has to die. If He dies, the problem is solved. Then they can keep their place and nothing will happen to the people.
The Spirit of God then notes that this ‘cleverness’ of the high priest is an unintentional but no less true prophecy about the death of Christ. The Spirit of God uses the mouth of Caiaphas to speak a prophecy. Similarly, the Spirit also used the mouth of an ungodly Balaam to speak the most beautiful prophecies about the people (Numbers 23-24). The Lord Jesus would indeed die for the people. Thus their thoughts of evil would be turned by God for the good of the people (Genesis 50:20).
God’s plans with the death of His Son go even further. He will not only die for the people, but through His death He will unite the children of God who are scattered abroad. The scattered children of God are others than the Jewish sheep (John 10:16). That unity has become a fact in the church of God in the New Testament.
Before the time of the church, which came into existence in Acts 2 (Acts 2:1-4), there was no unity of all believers around the world. The only unity there was, was that of Israel. This was a national unity. That does not mean that all in Israel were children of God. In addition, also outside of Israel were believers, but they were outside the blessings of God’s people. They had never become one. This only happened when the Lord Jesus gave His life and He was glorified and then gave the Holy Spirit Who formed this unity. That unity is based on the death of Christ.
John 13:31
The Arrest Warrant
Knowing nothing of God’s plans, the wicked leaders continue their deliberations. It is now decided: Jesus must be killed. This is what their efforts will be focused on from now on. It is the seventh and last time that this intention is mentioned.
The Lord is fully aware of their murderous plans and no longer walks freely among the Jews. He does not do this out of fear, but by order of the Father. At the time determined by the Father and not on the occasion deemed appropriate by His enemies, He will give Himself into their hands.
The Lord goes away from Jerusalem to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim. Wilderness indicates the deadness of the people. Ephraim means ‘double fertility’. Where no fruit is to be expected from the people, the result of His work will have a double fruit, in which we can think of Israel and the church.
His disciples accompany Him in His stay in that place. Although His disciples are not the direct targets of the Pharisees’ murder plans, they do share in the consequences it has for the Lord’s way. It is nice to see that they remain faithful to Him in spite of everything, because they did not understand everything the Lord said and did, and the hatred that is provoked thereby.
The time is approaching to go back to Jerusalem. The reason to go there is the Passover, which is again called “the Passover of the Jews”. Many from the country have already set out to be in Jerusalem in time to purify themselves. But what do outward purifying and an outward feast mean when He Who instituted this feast and should be the center of it, is rejected and hated, and even an arrest warrant has been issued against Him (John 11:57)?
Just as in John 7 (John 7:11), people in Jerusalem are seeking for the Lord Jesus. Geographically they are in the right place, in the temple. There He has often taught. But the temple is empty. Therefore they are spiritually in the wrong place and remain in darkness about Who He is. They do discuss it with one another and ask for each other’s opinion, but it does not go further than curiosity. The heart does not really turn to Him.
The chief priests and Pharisees are spiritually much further distant from the Lord and live in even greater darkness. They are filled with only one thing and that is His death. They no longer try to seize Him with trickery through spies, but order His tracking (Luke 20:20). Whoever can provide any information about His whereabouts, is expected to report it immediately. They will then take the action they fervently desire, and seize Him.
John 13:32
The Arrest Warrant
Knowing nothing of God’s plans, the wicked leaders continue their deliberations. It is now decided: Jesus must be killed. This is what their efforts will be focused on from now on. It is the seventh and last time that this intention is mentioned.
The Lord is fully aware of their murderous plans and no longer walks freely among the Jews. He does not do this out of fear, but by order of the Father. At the time determined by the Father and not on the occasion deemed appropriate by His enemies, He will give Himself into their hands.
The Lord goes away from Jerusalem to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim. Wilderness indicates the deadness of the people. Ephraim means ‘double fertility’. Where no fruit is to be expected from the people, the result of His work will have a double fruit, in which we can think of Israel and the church.
His disciples accompany Him in His stay in that place. Although His disciples are not the direct targets of the Pharisees’ murder plans, they do share in the consequences it has for the Lord’s way. It is nice to see that they remain faithful to Him in spite of everything, because they did not understand everything the Lord said and did, and the hatred that is provoked thereby.
The time is approaching to go back to Jerusalem. The reason to go there is the Passover, which is again called “the Passover of the Jews”. Many from the country have already set out to be in Jerusalem in time to purify themselves. But what do outward purifying and an outward feast mean when He Who instituted this feast and should be the center of it, is rejected and hated, and even an arrest warrant has been issued against Him (John 11:57)?
Just as in John 7 (John 7:11), people in Jerusalem are seeking for the Lord Jesus. Geographically they are in the right place, in the temple. There He has often taught. But the temple is empty. Therefore they are spiritually in the wrong place and remain in darkness about Who He is. They do discuss it with one another and ask for each other’s opinion, but it does not go further than curiosity. The heart does not really turn to Him.
The chief priests and Pharisees are spiritually much further distant from the Lord and live in even greater darkness. They are filled with only one thing and that is His death. They no longer try to seize Him with trickery through spies, but order His tracking (Luke 20:20). Whoever can provide any information about His whereabouts, is expected to report it immediately. They will then take the action they fervently desire, and seize Him.
John 13:33
The Arrest Warrant
Knowing nothing of God’s plans, the wicked leaders continue their deliberations. It is now decided: Jesus must be killed. This is what their efforts will be focused on from now on. It is the seventh and last time that this intention is mentioned.
The Lord is fully aware of their murderous plans and no longer walks freely among the Jews. He does not do this out of fear, but by order of the Father. At the time determined by the Father and not on the occasion deemed appropriate by His enemies, He will give Himself into their hands.
The Lord goes away from Jerusalem to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim. Wilderness indicates the deadness of the people. Ephraim means ‘double fertility’. Where no fruit is to be expected from the people, the result of His work will have a double fruit, in which we can think of Israel and the church.
His disciples accompany Him in His stay in that place. Although His disciples are not the direct targets of the Pharisees’ murder plans, they do share in the consequences it has for the Lord’s way. It is nice to see that they remain faithful to Him in spite of everything, because they did not understand everything the Lord said and did, and the hatred that is provoked thereby.
The time is approaching to go back to Jerusalem. The reason to go there is the Passover, which is again called “the Passover of the Jews”. Many from the country have already set out to be in Jerusalem in time to purify themselves. But what do outward purifying and an outward feast mean when He Who instituted this feast and should be the center of it, is rejected and hated, and even an arrest warrant has been issued against Him (John 11:57)?
Just as in John 7 (John 7:11), people in Jerusalem are seeking for the Lord Jesus. Geographically they are in the right place, in the temple. There He has often taught. But the temple is empty. Therefore they are spiritually in the wrong place and remain in darkness about Who He is. They do discuss it with one another and ask for each other’s opinion, but it does not go further than curiosity. The heart does not really turn to Him.
The chief priests and Pharisees are spiritually much further distant from the Lord and live in even greater darkness. They are filled with only one thing and that is His death. They no longer try to seize Him with trickery through spies, but order His tracking (Luke 20:20). Whoever can provide any information about His whereabouts, is expected to report it immediately. They will then take the action they fervently desire, and seize Him.
John 13:34
The Arrest Warrant
Knowing nothing of God’s plans, the wicked leaders continue their deliberations. It is now decided: Jesus must be killed. This is what their efforts will be focused on from now on. It is the seventh and last time that this intention is mentioned.
The Lord is fully aware of their murderous plans and no longer walks freely among the Jews. He does not do this out of fear, but by order of the Father. At the time determined by the Father and not on the occasion deemed appropriate by His enemies, He will give Himself into their hands.
The Lord goes away from Jerusalem to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim. Wilderness indicates the deadness of the people. Ephraim means ‘double fertility’. Where no fruit is to be expected from the people, the result of His work will have a double fruit, in which we can think of Israel and the church.
His disciples accompany Him in His stay in that place. Although His disciples are not the direct targets of the Pharisees’ murder plans, they do share in the consequences it has for the Lord’s way. It is nice to see that they remain faithful to Him in spite of everything, because they did not understand everything the Lord said and did, and the hatred that is provoked thereby.
The time is approaching to go back to Jerusalem. The reason to go there is the Passover, which is again called “the Passover of the Jews”. Many from the country have already set out to be in Jerusalem in time to purify themselves. But what do outward purifying and an outward feast mean when He Who instituted this feast and should be the center of it, is rejected and hated, and even an arrest warrant has been issued against Him (John 11:57)?
Just as in John 7 (John 7:11), people in Jerusalem are seeking for the Lord Jesus. Geographically they are in the right place, in the temple. There He has often taught. But the temple is empty. Therefore they are spiritually in the wrong place and remain in darkness about Who He is. They do discuss it with one another and ask for each other’s opinion, but it does not go further than curiosity. The heart does not really turn to Him.
The chief priests and Pharisees are spiritually much further distant from the Lord and live in even greater darkness. They are filled with only one thing and that is His death. They no longer try to seize Him with trickery through spies, but order His tracking (Luke 20:20). Whoever can provide any information about His whereabouts, is expected to report it immediately. They will then take the action they fervently desire, and seize Him.
John 13:35
The Arrest Warrant
Knowing nothing of God’s plans, the wicked leaders continue their deliberations. It is now decided: Jesus must be killed. This is what their efforts will be focused on from now on. It is the seventh and last time that this intention is mentioned.
The Lord is fully aware of their murderous plans and no longer walks freely among the Jews. He does not do this out of fear, but by order of the Father. At the time determined by the Father and not on the occasion deemed appropriate by His enemies, He will give Himself into their hands.
The Lord goes away from Jerusalem to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim. Wilderness indicates the deadness of the people. Ephraim means ‘double fertility’. Where no fruit is to be expected from the people, the result of His work will have a double fruit, in which we can think of Israel and the church.
His disciples accompany Him in His stay in that place. Although His disciples are not the direct targets of the Pharisees’ murder plans, they do share in the consequences it has for the Lord’s way. It is nice to see that they remain faithful to Him in spite of everything, because they did not understand everything the Lord said and did, and the hatred that is provoked thereby.
The time is approaching to go back to Jerusalem. The reason to go there is the Passover, which is again called “the Passover of the Jews”. Many from the country have already set out to be in Jerusalem in time to purify themselves. But what do outward purifying and an outward feast mean when He Who instituted this feast and should be the center of it, is rejected and hated, and even an arrest warrant has been issued against Him (John 11:57)?
Just as in John 7 (John 7:11), people in Jerusalem are seeking for the Lord Jesus. Geographically they are in the right place, in the temple. There He has often taught. But the temple is empty. Therefore they are spiritually in the wrong place and remain in darkness about Who He is. They do discuss it with one another and ask for each other’s opinion, but it does not go further than curiosity. The heart does not really turn to Him.
The chief priests and Pharisees are spiritually much further distant from the Lord and live in even greater darkness. They are filled with only one thing and that is His death. They no longer try to seize Him with trickery through spies, but order His tracking (Luke 20:20). Whoever can provide any information about His whereabouts, is expected to report it immediately. They will then take the action they fervently desire, and seize Him.
John 13:37
Back in Bethany
After His stay in the city of Ephraim (John 11:54), the Lord returns to Bethany. It is six days before the Passover. It does not add ‘the feast of the Jews’. This time our attention is drawn to what this feast means to the Lord. At this feast He will surrender Himself in death as the true Passover Lamb.
On His way to Jerusalem He travels through Bethany, where He is the guest of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. The fact that Lazarus is present will have given a unique shine to this visit. This wonderful shine is further enhanced by the act Mary is about to perform on the Lord Jesus. Lazarus is mentioned as a special attendee, for the reason that he had died, but that Christ had raised him from the dead. The Life-giving and the one made alive belong together. Thus believers may always come together with Him Who has given them life i.e. who were made alive by Him.
A supper is made by Martha for the Lord and served by her. Serving Martha is mentioned here in an appreciative sense. She serves without commenting on the Lord Jesus and her sister (Luke 10:38-42). Lazarus is one of those reclining at the table with Him. Nowhere do we read of Lazarus that he spoke a word. He is a wonderful example of a true worshiper. Without words he enjoys the fellowship with his Lord with all his heart. In what a new way he will have looked at Him, full of gratitude and admiration.
John 13:38
Back in Bethany
After His stay in the city of Ephraim (John 11:54), the Lord returns to Bethany. It is six days before the Passover. It does not add ‘the feast of the Jews’. This time our attention is drawn to what this feast means to the Lord. At this feast He will surrender Himself in death as the true Passover Lamb.
On His way to Jerusalem He travels through Bethany, where He is the guest of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. The fact that Lazarus is present will have given a unique shine to this visit. This wonderful shine is further enhanced by the act Mary is about to perform on the Lord Jesus. Lazarus is mentioned as a special attendee, for the reason that he had died, but that Christ had raised him from the dead. The Life-giving and the one made alive belong together. Thus believers may always come together with Him Who has given them life i.e. who were made alive by Him.
A supper is made by Martha for the Lord and served by her. Serving Martha is mentioned here in an appreciative sense. She serves without commenting on the Lord Jesus and her sister (Luke 10:38-42). Lazarus is one of those reclining at the table with Him. Nowhere do we read of Lazarus that he spoke a word. He is a wonderful example of a true worshiper. Without words he enjoys the fellowship with his Lord with all his heart. In what a new way he will have looked at Him, full of gratitude and admiration.