The story so far. Jesus had given sight to a born-blind-beggar in Jerusalem on a Sabbath day around AD 30. This led to attempts to stone him for making himself out to be God so he went away – across Jordan – to continue his ministry.
There he hears that his friend Lazarus of Bethany (the “him” in the extract above) is terminally weakening. Instead of setting out towards him, Jesus waits until Lazarus has died. When he gets to Bethany he finds “him already having had four days in the tomb.”
Therefore Martha, hearing that Jesus was coming, went and met him; in fact, Mary was sitting down in the house.
Martha and Mary are divided. Mary doers not go to meet their friend Jesus.
Therefore, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died and now I discern that those things you would ask God, God will give to you.”
Martha said two things. Mary only one (see Mary’s words below).
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Jesus states to her, “Your brother will stand up.” Martha states to him, “I know that he will stand up in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I myself am the resurrection and the life. The one believing into me, even if that one may die, will live, and each one living and believing into me will never die - into eternity. You do believe this.” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I myself believe that you yourself are the Christ, the Son of God, coming into the world”.
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And, having said this, she came away and called her sister Mary, privately, saying, “The teacher is present and calls you.” In fact, when she herself heard, she arose quickly and went to him. In fact, Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had gone to meet him. Therefore, the Jews, being with her in the house and consoling her, seeing Mary – that she stood up quickly and came out - followed after her, thinking that she goes away into the tomb so that she may weep there.
Faithful Martha brings a personal invitation to Mary asking her to meet with Four days after the funeral, Mary is still in great mourning. Others are staying close to her, concerned that she might “go away into the tomb…”
Therefore Mary, as she came where Jesus was, seeing him, fell down at his feet, stating to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Only one statement from Mary. Was it an accusation? Or despair?
Therefore Jesus, when he saw her weeping, and the Jews coming together with her weeping, was intensely moved in his spirit and distressed himself and said, “Where have you set him down?” They stated to him, “Lord. Come! And see!” Jesus wept.
All are weeping. This is mega-sorrow – especially for Jesus.
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Therefore, the Jews were stating, “See how he befriended him!” In fact, some from them said, “This one was not able – the one opening the eyes of the blind – to do – so that this one might not die.”
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| The Jews are divided. Did Jesus greatly love his friend Lazarus? Was it correct that Jesus was “not able to do” – to do anything at all – “so that this one might not die”? Or was he shortly “to do” (at the cross) “so that this one might not die”?
And was he about to demonstrate to Mary - by raising four-days-dead-and-buried Lazarus from his tomb – that “I myself am the resurrection and the life. The one believing into me, even if that one may die, will live, and each one living and believing into me will never die - into eternity.” |
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