Commentary on John 11:1–46 by Noël (Natalis) Alexandre
Note: Noël Alexandre (1639–1724), also known as Natalis Alexander, was a French Dominican theologian, church historian, and biblical scholar. His Commentarium in Novum Testamentum (1702) was widely used in Catholic seminaries. This commentary on the raising of Lazarus reflects Alexandre's characteristic synthesis of patristic authority (especially Cyril of Alexandria, Chrysostom, and Augustine), linguistic precision, and moral-theological application. Translated by Qwen.+
John 11:1–2: The Setting and Characters
"NOW THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN SICK, LAZARUS BY NAME, OF BETHANY, OF THE TOWN OF MARY AND MARTHA HIS SISTER"
There was a certain man sick, Lazarus by name, originating from Bethany—that is, from a village situated in that region of the Mount of Olives which was called Bethany, of the town of Mary and Martha his sister. In which village or town dwelt Mary and Martha his sisters, at that time famous among Christ's disciples for this reason: that they had often received Christ and His Apostles as guests.
But Mary was she who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:3), whose brother Lazarus was sick—that is, was dangerously ill. The Evangelist has in view the anointing performed by the penitent Mary. For the anointing which took place after the resurrection of Lazarus is commemorated in the following chapter.
John 11:3–4: The Sisters' Message and Christ's Response
"HIS SISTERS THEREFORE SENT TO HIM, SAYING: LORD, BEHOLD, HE WHOM THOU LOVEST IS SICK"
His sisters therefore sent to Him—namely, to Jesus—saying through a messenger: "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick," hoping that He would heal him, since neither goodness nor power was lacking to Him.
"BUT JESUS HEARING IT, SAID TO THEM: THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, THAT THE SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED BY IT"
"But Jesus, hearing it, said to them: 'This sickness is not unto death,' that is, not unto a common and permanent death, 'but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it,' so that on the occasion of this sickness the glory of God and of His Son may be made more manifest and celebrated."
"Nothing hinders," says St. Cyril (Book 7, Chapter 8, on John), "that He should say the sickness of Lazarus is not unto death, and yet death should occur. For looking to the outcome of the matter, and that he was about to rise again shortly after, we do not consider what happened in the meantime, but to what end the whole matter tended. Moreover, He manifestly declares that His own glory and that of God are the same, showing of whom He is truly the Son and God one with the Father" (p. 676).
John 11:5–7: Christ's Love and His Deliberate Delay
"NOW JESUS LOVED MARTHA, AND HER SISTER MARY, AND LAZARUS"
Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary, and Lazarus, by whom He was accustomed to be received as a guest, and whom He had deemed worthy of His love.
"WHEN HE HAD HEARD THEREFORE THAT HE WAS SICK, HE THEN REMAINED IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE HE WAS, TWO DAYS"
Therefore, when He had heard that he was sick, He then indeed remained in the same place where He had received the message, for two days, so that there could be no doubt about his death, and the miracle of his resurrection, which He was about to perform afterwards, might be evident.
"THEN AFTER THAT, HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES: LET US GO INTO JUDEA AGAIN"
Then after that, He said to His disciples: "Let us go into Judea again," that is, into the territory of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, toward Jerusalem. For they were then beyond the Jordan, in Perea.
John 11:8–10: The Disciples' Fear and Christ's Answer
"THE DISCIPLES SAY TO HIM: RABBI, THE JEWS BUT NOW SOUGHT TO STONE THEE"
The disciples say to Him: "Rabbi, the Jews but now sought to stone Thee." It is not long since the Jews wished to overwhelm Thee with stones; we beseech Thee, do not expose Thyself again to extreme danger.
"JESUS ANSWERED: ARE THERE NOT TWELVE HOURS OF THE DAY? IF A MAN WALK IN THE DAY, HE STUMBLETH NOT, BECAUSE HE SEETH THE LIGHT OF THIS WORLD; BUT IF HE WALK IN THE NIGHT, HE STUMBLETH, BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS NOT IN HIM"
Jesus answered: "Are there not twelve hours of the day?" That is, the space of the day is certain and fixed, which cannot be diminished. "If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not," he does not fall, "because he seeth the light of this world; but if he walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him," the light does not shine upon him, by the help of which he could avoid stumbling blocks.
By this proverbial saying, Christ signifies that there is a certain and appointed time in which He ought to live and fulfill His office; during which time the Jews cannot kill Him, since He cannot suffer anything against His will.
This application of the saying may also be understood, with St. Cyril as interpreter: "It is not yet time for Me to depart altogether from the Jews, although they are wicked; but just as the light of day does not fail unless the space of twelve hours is completed, so neither before the appointed time will I take away the light of My doctrine from the Jews; rather, I will remain with them even unto death, that I may enlighten them wandering in darkness, so that it must be attributed to their sins and voluntary blindness that they stumble at Me as at a stone" (St. Cyril, Book 7, Chapter 8, on John, p. 678).
Finally, He signifies that the disciples will suffer nothing harsh as long as they are with Him, who enlightens all things.
John 11:11–16: Lazarus Sleeps; Thomas's Zeal
"THESE THINGS HE SAID; AND AFTER THAT HE SAID TO THEM: LAZARUS OUR FRIEND SLEEPETH; BUT I GO THAT I MAY AWAKE HIM OUT OF SLEEP"
These things He said; and after that He said to them: "Lazarus our friend sleepeth," that is, is dead. To the Hebrews this figurative manner of speaking was customary, that they signified death by the name of sleep. Which manner of speaking Jesus employed the more fittingly to signify the death of Lazarus, in that He was about to raise him up shortly, and as easily as a man sleeping is awakened from sleep. "But I go that I may awake him out of sleep."
"HIS DISCIPLES THEREFORE SAID: LORD, IF HE SLEEP, HE SHALL DO WELL"
His disciples therefore said: "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well," he will recover; there is no need for Thee to expose Thyself to danger to awake him from a salutary sleep.
"BUT JESUS SPOKE OF HIS DEATH; AND THEY THOUGHT THAT HE SPOKE OF THE REPOSE OF SLEEP"
But Jesus spoke of his death; and they thought that He spoke of the repose of sleep, or of common and ordinary sleep, from which He wished to rouse him as from something harmful. For they were still untrained in the school of Christ.
"THEN THEREFORE JESUS SAID TO THEM PLAINLY: LAZARUS IS DEAD; AND I AM GLAD FOR YOUR SAKES, THAT I WAS NOT THERE, THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
Then therefore Jesus said to them plainly, without metaphor: "Lazarus is dead; and I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, that you may believe." I am glad for your sakes because I was not there; for, moved by the prayers and tears of the pious sisters, I would have been inclined to restore him to health; but from his resurrection your faith in Me will be increased and confirmed, and you will more firmly believe that I am the Author of life. This is the reason for My joy; for your progress alone is dear to My heart. "But let us go to him."
"THOMAS THEREFORE, WHO IS CALLED DIDYMUS, SAID TO HIS FELLOW-DISCIPLES: LET US ALSO GO, THAT WE MAY DIE WITH HIM"
Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus—whose name in Greek signifies "twin"—said to his fellow-disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Since it has been decreed by our Master to go into danger of death, let us also go unto certain death; for it is not right that we should desert Him.
These words, some say, savor of a ready will indeed, but also of timidity; of a generous spirit and lover of God, but mingled with unbelief. For he does not wish to remain without Jesus, but exhorts his fellow-disciples to face danger with the Master. "Let us go; if we go, it is done with our life; but nevertheless let us not refuse to suffer; nor ought we to value life so much that we be separated from Him."
John 11:17–20: Jesus Arrives at Bethany
"JESUS THEREFORE CAME, AND FOUND THAT HE HAD BEEN FOUR DAYS ALREADY IN THE GRAVE"
Jesus therefore came to Bethany, and found him—namely, Lazarus—already four days in the monument, already lying in the sepulcher for four days.
"NOW BETHANY WAS NEAR JERUSALEM, ABOUT FIFTEEN FURLONGS OFF"
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off—that is, a little more than half a league according to our manner of measuring.
But someone will say: If Bethany was fifteen furlongs distant, how was Lazarus already four days dead? It is answered: Christ remained two days before He went to Lazarus. The messenger had come the day before, on which day Lazarus died; therefore on the fourth day Jesus came to Bethany.
"AND MANY OF THE JEWS WERE COME TO MARTHA AND MARY, TO COMFORT THEM CONCERNING THEIR BROTHER"
And many of the Jews from Jerusalem, on account of the nearness, had come to Martha and Mary—women distinguished by nobility and religion—that they might comfort them concerning their brother, that they might soothe their grief over the death of their brother; which office was accustomed to be extended for seven days.
"MARTHA THEREFORE, AS SOON AS SHE HEARD THAT JESUS WAS COME, WENT TO MEET HIM; BUT MARY SAT AT HOME"
Martha therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus had come, went to meet Him; but Mary sat at home, receiving the Jewish comforters in the inner part of the house and being detained by them.
John 11:21–27: Martha's Confession of Faith
"MARTHA THEREFORE SAID TO JESUS: LORD, IF THOU HADST BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER HAD NOT DIED"
Martha therefore said to Jesus: "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." For on account of Thy love toward us, Thou wouldst have healed him.
"BUT NOW ALSO I KNOW THAT WHATSOEVER THOU WILT ASK OF GOD, GOD WILL GIVE IT THEE"
"But now also I know that whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee"—even things impossible by the powers of nature, such as the resurrection of my brother, God will grant to Thee at Thy prayers.
She did not say: "But now I beseech Thee to raise my brother." For she did not know whether it would be useful for her brother to rise again. She said only this: "I know that Thou canst; if Thou wilt, Thou dost." Whether Thou dost or not is a matter of Thy judgment, not of my presumption (St. Augustine, Tractate 49 on John).
"JESUS SAITH TO HER: THY BROTHER SHALL RISE AGAIN"
Jesus saith to her: "Thy brother shall rise again." He does not say: "I will raise him up immediately," both for the sake of modesty, and that He might gradually excite Martha's mind to faith and hope in the miracle.
"MARTHA SAITH TO HIM: I KNOW THAT HE SHALL RISE AGAIN, IN THE RESURRECTION AT THE LAST DAY"
Martha saith to Him, supposing that He was speaking of the universal resurrection to take place at the end of the world: "I know that he shall rise again, in the resurrection at the last day." Of this resurrection I am secure; this is the object of my hope.
"JESUS SAID TO HER: I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE"
Jesus said to her: "I am the resurrection and the life." I am the Author of life and of resurrection; therefore do not think so meanly of Me, as though I could procure life for thy brother precariously and by another's power, through prayers poured forth to God. Through Me both the living live and the dead rise again.
"HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, ALTHOUGH HE BE DEAD, SHALL LIVE"
"He that believeth in Me," who has acknowledged Me for Christ and the Author of life and resurrection, and who has adhered to Me, "although he be dead, shall live"; he shall rise again to eternal life.
"AND EVERY ONE THAT LIVETH, AND BELIEVETH IN ME, SHALL NOT DIE FOR EVER"
"And every one that liveth," who leads a mortal life in this world, "and believeth in Me," if he believe in Me with a faith working through love, and persevere in that faith and love, "shall not die for ever," by the second death; rather, he shall live with immortal and blessed life.
"BELIEVEST THOU THIS?"
"Believest thou this?" As if Jesus were to say: This especially is to be believed; this is to be desired for thy brother and for thyself; this ought to be the sum of thy vows: that through Me you may live eternally and blessedly.
"SHE SAITH TO HIM: YEA, LORD, I HAVE BELIEVED THAT THOU ART CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, WHO ART COME INTO THIS WORLD"
She saith to Him: "Yea, Lord, I have believed that Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God, who art come into this world." Long ago I have believed Thee to be Christ, the Son of the living God, and consequently the Giver of life, who hast come into this world that Thou mightest redeem and save the human race from the death of sin, from eternal death. When I believed this, I believed that Thou art the resurrection; I believed that Thou art the life; I believed that he who believes in Thee, although he die, shall live; and he who lives and believes in Thee shall not die for ever.
John 11:28–32: Mary Comes to Jesus
"AND WHEN SHE HAD SAID THESE THINGS, SHE WENT, AND CALLED HER SISTER MARY SECRETLY, SAYING: THE MASTER IS COME, AND CALLETH FOR THEE"
And when she had said these things, she went, and called her sister Mary secretly—that is, with a subdued voice—saying: "The Master is come, and calleth for thee." She, as soon as she heard, riseth up quickly and cometh to Him, obeying the one calling with a ready mind.
"FOR JESUS WAS NOT YET COME INTO THE TOWN; BUT HE WAS STILL IN THAT PLACE WHERE MARTHA HAD MET HIM"
For Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was still in that place where Martha had met Him, near the sepulcher, which was situated outside the village, according to the custom of the Hebrews.
"THE JEWS THEREFORE, WHO WERE WITH HER IN THE HOUSE, AND COMFORTED HER, WHEN THEY SAW MARY THAT SHE ROSE UP SPEEDILY AND WENT OUT, FOLLOWED HER"
The Jews therefore from Jerusalem, who were with her—namely, with Mary—in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary that she rose up speedily and went out—when they saw her rise so quickly and go forth—followed her, accompanied her for honor's sake, saying: "Because she goeth to the monument, that she may weep there." For a greater lamentation was accustomed to be excited there, as if the grief were renewed.
"MARY THEREFORE, WHEN SHE WAS COME WHERE JESUS WAS, SEEING HIM, FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET"
Mary therefore, when she was come where Jesus was, seeing Him, fell down at His feet, prostrated herself as a sign of the highest veneration with which she pursued Him as the Messiah promised by God, and saith to Him: "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
No less was her faith than Martha's; she knew equally the power of Jesus and His charity; therefore she uses the same words. By these words, addressing Him as God, St. Cyril conjectures, although she did not speak accurately, deeming that He was not present because He was absent in body.
John 11:33–37: Jesus Weeps
"JESUS THEREFORE, WHEN HE SAW HER WEEPING, AND THE JEWS THAT WERE COME WITH HER WEEPING, HE GROANED IN THE SPIRIT, AND TROUBLED HIMSELF"
Jesus therefore, when He saw her weeping, and the Jews that were come with her weeping, "groaned in the spirit," He was intimately moved with a vehement affection of compassion and condolence, "and troubled Himself"; He excited sadness in Himself, and indicated it by evident signs.
"AND SAID: WHERE HAVE YOU LAID HIM? THEY SAY TO HIM: LORD, COME AND SEE"
And said: "Where have you laid him? where have you buried him?" They say to Him: "Lord, come and see." He asks, and conducts Himself as if ignorant, that the miracle might be free from all suspicion (St. Chrysostom, Homily 62 on John).
"AND JESUS WEPT"
And Jesus wept. About to give a sign of His divinity, He first gave signs of His humanity, that He might be believed to be God and man. "For neither in Him, in whom there was a true body of man and a true soul of man, was the human affection false. But these emotions He assumed with human mind for the sake of a certain dispensation, so that when He willed, He became man" (St. Augustine, On the Trinity, Book 14, Chapter 9, n. 3).
"THE JEWS THEREFORE SAID: BEHOLD HOW HE LOVED HIM"
The Jews therefore said: "Behold how He loved him." Tears are witnesses of love, especially in a man grave and constant, mourning the dead.
Yet Jesus wept only for a short time; soon He checks His tears, lest He seem hard and unmerciful, without any sense of grief, if He beheld the death of a friend and the affliction of pious sisters with dry eyes; and lest He seem to fail in the manly constancy of a wise man if He wept intemperately.
"BUT SOME OF THEM SAID: COULD NOT HE THAT OPENED THE EYES OF THE MAN BORN BLIND, HAVE CAUSED THAT THIS MAN SHOULD NOT DIE?"
But some of them, insulting the Lord Jesus with diabolical sarcasm, said: "Could not He that opened the eyes of the man born blind, have caused that this man should not die?" For that would have been much easier.
"But you err, O Jews; envy drives you headlong. He who did not wish to cause that he should not die, is about to do something greater: that he who is dead should be raised" (St. Augustine, Tractate 49 on John).
John 11:38–40: The Tomb and Martha's Warning
"JESUS THEREFORE AGAIN GROANING IN HIMSELF, COMETH TO THE MONUMENT"
Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself—moved with vehement grief, which His countenance testified—cometh to the monument in which the body of Lazarus was buried.
"NOW IT WAS A CAVE; AND A STONE WAS LAID OVER IT"
Now it was a cave; a stone was laid over it to close the entrance of the cave. Hence the faith in the miracle is confirmed, suspicion of fraud is excluded.
"JESUS SAITH: TAKE AWAY THE STONE"
Jesus saith: "Take away the stone," lest the Jews standing around should say that the resurrection about to take place immediately was a mere illusion, if Lazarus, revived, should come forth from the closed cave.
"MARTHA, THE SISTER OF HIM THAT WAS DEAD, SAITH TO HIM: LORD, BY THIS TIME HE STINKETH; FOR IT IS NOW THE FOURTH DAY"
Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to Him: "Lord, by this time he stinketh; for it is now the fourth day." Martha did not suppose that Jesus wished to raise him up, but only to enjoy the sight of his lying friend; whence she humanely diverted Him from the entrance of the cave, lest He be offended by the stench of a four-day-old corpse.
"JESUS SAITH TO HER: DID NOT I SAY TO THEE, THAT IF THOU BELIEVE, THOU SHALT SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?"
Jesus saith to her: "Did not I say to thee, that if thou believe," that I am the Author of resurrection and life, "thou shalt see the glory of God?"—the divine and glorious work which I am about to perform immediately.
John 11:41–42: Christ's Prayer of Thanksgiving
"THEY TOOK THEREFORE THE STONE AWAY; AND JESUS LIFTING UP HIS EYES, SAID: FATHER, I GIVE THEE THANKS THAT THOU HAST HEARD ME"
They took therefore the stone away, the ministers standing around. But Jesus, lifting up His eyes to heaven—which is the seat of God—said: "Father, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast heard Me."
He gives thanks as man for the divine power of effecting any miracles whatsoever, and speaks as if the thing were already accomplished, teaching that He is certain of the Father's will, and showing Himself to be one God with Him, who has no need of prayers.
"AND I KNEW THAT THOU HEAREST ME ALWAYS; BUT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO STAND ABOUT HAVE I SAID IT, THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME"
"And I knew that Thou hearest Me always," willing whatever I will, whether as God with one will with Thee, or as man with a will in all things conformable to Thine. "But because of the people who stand about have I said it, that they may believe that Thou hast sent Me," seeing that I refer all things to Thee, and profess Thee to be the Author of the power which I have—namely, which I received from Thee by being born.
This manner of giving thanks, therefore, is employed by Christ economically, insofar as He is man, lest the Jews should any longer say that He performs signs in Beelzebub (St. Cyril of Alexandria, on John).
John 11:43–44: The Miracle of Resurrection
"WHEN HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS, HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE: LAZARUS, COME FORTH"
When He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, that His words, demonstrating that the power over death was in His hands, might be heard by all: "Lazarus, come forth!" His voice was operative, efficacious, life-giving; not using prayers but command to raise the dead, He shows Himself to be the true Author of life and true God, sent into the world by God the Father for the salvation of men.
"AND IMMEDIATELY HE THAT HAD BEEN DEAD CAME FORTH, BOUND FEET AND HANDS WITH BANDS; AND HIS FACE WAS BOUND ABOUT WITH A NAPIKIN"
And immediately he that had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with bands. He came forth from the sepulcher at the command of Jesus, although bound in hands and feet. The bodies of the dead were so buried among the Jews that the whole body, wrapped in a shroud, was bound with bands, like the bodies of infants. "And his face was bound about with a napkin," veiled with a linen cloth, fastened with cords or knots (St. Chrysostom, Homily 63 on John).
"JESUS SAITH TO THEM: LOOSE HIM, AND LET HIM GO"
Jesus saith to them: "Loose him, and let him go." Loose the bands with which he is wrapped and bound, that he may go home. He ordered him to be loosed by those standing by, that they might have certain and assured knowledge that he had truly risen. He did not lead him into the house, nor keep him with Himself, lest He seem to seek glory from the miracle performed.
John 11:45–46: The Effect of the Miracle
"MANY THEREFORE OF THE JEWS, WHO WERE COME TO MARY AND MARTHA, AND HAD SEEN THE THINGS THAT JESUS DID, BELIEVED IN HIM"
Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary and Martha, and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in Him. They believed Him to be the Messiah promised by the Fathers and sent by God, convinced by the greatness and truth of the miracle.
"BUT SOME OF THEM WENT TO THE PHARISEES, AND TOLD THEM THE THINGS THAT JESUS HAD DONE"
But some of them, hardened by their impiety and unbelief, went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things that Jesus had done, that they might curry favor.
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