Church Fathers Commentary John 11:17-27

"So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house. Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, [even] he that cometh into the world." — John 11:17-27 (ASV)

Alcuin of York: Our Lord delayed His coming for four days so that the resurrection of Lazarus would be more glorious: Then when Jesus came, He found that He had lain in the grave four days already.

St. John Chrysostom: Our Lord had stayed two days, and the messenger had arrived the day before, which was the very day on which Lazarus died. This brings us to the fourth day.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Many things can be said about the four days. They refer to one thing, but that one thing is viewed in different ways. There is one day of death which the law of our birth brings upon us. People transgress the natural law, and this is a second day of death.

The written law was given to humanity by the hand of Moses, and it is despised—a third day of death. Then the Gospel comes, and people transgress it—a fourth day of death. But Christ does not disdain to awaken even these.

Alcuin of York: The first sin was pride of heart, the second was assent, the third was the act, and the fourth was habit.

St. John Chrysostom: Two miles. This is mentioned to explain why so many came from Jerusalem: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. But how could the Jews be consoling the beloved of Christ, when they had resolved that whoever confessed Christ would be put out of the synagogue?

Perhaps the extreme affliction of the sisters excited their sympathy, or they wished to show respect for their rank. Or perhaps those who came were of a better sort, as we find many of them believed. Their presence is mentioned to remove all doubt about the reality of Lazarus’s death.

The Venerable Bede: Our Lord had not yet entered the town when Martha met Him: Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him; but Mary sat still in the house.

St. John Chrysostom: Martha does not take her sister with her because she wants to speak with Christ alone and tell Him what has happened. After her hopes had been raised by Him, she went on her way and called Mary.

Theophylact of Ohrid: At first, she does not tell her sister, for fear that if Mary came, the Jews who were present might accompany her. She did not want them to know of our Lord’s coming. Then Martha says to Jesus, Lord, if You had been here, my brother had not died.

St. John Chrysostom: She believed in Christ, but she did not believe as she ought to have. She did not speak as if He were God: If You had been here, my brother had not died.

Theophylact of Ohrid: She did not know that He could have restored her brother just as well from a distance as He could have when present.

St. John Chrysostom: Nor did she know that He performed His miracles by His own independent power: But I know that even now, whatever You will ask of God, God will give it to you. She thinks of Him only as some very gifted man.

St. Augustine of Hippo: She does not say to Him, “Bring my brother to life again,” for how could she know that it would be good for him to come back to life? She says, “I know that You can do so, if You will,” but what You will do is for Your judgment to determine, not my presumption.

St. John Chrysostom: But our Lord taught her the truths she did not know. Jesus says to her, Your brother shall rise again. Observe, He does not say, “I will ask God, that he may rise again.” Nor, on the other hand, does He say, “I want no help; I do all things by Myself”—a declaration that would have been too much for the woman. Instead, He says something between the two: He shall rise again.

St. Augustine of Hippo: The phrase “shall rise again” is ambiguous, for He does not say “now.” And therefore, Martha replies to Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Of that resurrection I am certain, but of this one I am doubtful.

St. John Chrysostom: She had often heard Christ speak of the resurrection. Jesus now declares His power more plainly: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He therefore needed no one to help Him, for if He did, how could He be the resurrection? And if He is the life, He is not confined by place but is everywhere and can heal everywhere.

Alcuin of York: I am the resurrection, because I am the life. Just as he will rise through Me at the general resurrection, so he may rise through Me now.

St. John Chrysostom: To Martha’s statement, “Whatever You shall ask,” He replies, He who believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. This shows her that He is the Giver of all good and that we must ask of Him. Thus, He leads her to the knowledge of higher truths. While she had been inquiring only about the resurrection of Lazarus, He tells her of a resurrection in which both she and all present would share.

St. Augustine of Hippo: He who believes in Me, though he were dead... that is, though his flesh may die, his soul shall live until the flesh rises again, never to die more. For faith is the life of the soul.

Alcuin of York: Because he has attained to the life of the Spirit and to an immortal resurrection. Our Lord, from whom nothing was hidden, knew that she believed but sought from her a confession for the sake of salvation: Do you believe this? She says to Him, Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.

St. John Chrysostom: She does not seem to have understood His words; that is, she saw that He meant something great, but she did not see what it was. She is asked one thing and answers another.

St. Augustine of Hippo: When I believed that You were the Son of God, I believed that You were the resurrection, that You were life, and that he who believes in You, though he were dead, shall live.