Church Fathers Commentary John 11:28-32

"And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is her, and calleth thee. And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him. (Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.) The Jews then who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to weep there. Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." — John 11:28-32 (ASV)

St. John Chrysostom: Christ's words stopped Martha's grief. In her devotion to her Master, she had no time to think of her afflictions. After she said this, she went on her way and called her sister Mary secretly.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Silently—that is, speaking in a low voice. For she did speak, saying, the Master is come, and calls for you.

St. John Chrysostom: She called her sister secretly so the Jews would not know that Christ was coming. For if they had known, they would have gone and not been witnesses of the miracle.

St. Augustine of Hippo: We may observe that the Evangelist has not said where, when, or how the Lord called Mary, but for the sake of brevity has left it for us to gather from Martha's words.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Perhaps she thought that the presence of Christ was itself a call, as if it were inexcusable for her not to go out and meet Him when He came.

St. John Chrysostom: While the rest sat around her in her sorrow, she did not wait for the Master to come to her but, without letting her grief detain her, rose immediately to meet Him. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came to Him.

St. Augustine of Hippo: So we see, if she had known of His arrival earlier, she would not have let Martha go without her. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met Him.

St. John Chrysostom: He went slowly so that He would not seem to grasp at an opportunity to work a miracle, but rather to have it urged upon Him by the requests of others. Mary, it is said, rose quickly and thus anticipated His coming. The Jews accompanied her: The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary that she arose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goes to the grave to weep there.

St. Augustine of Hippo: The Evangelist mentions this to show why so many were present at Lazarus's resurrection and witnessed that great miracle.

St. John Chrysostom: She is more fervent than her sister. Forgetful of the crowd around her, and of the Jews, some of whom were enemies to Christ, she threw herself at her Master’s feet. In His presence all earthly things were nothing to her; she thought of nothing but giving Him honor.

Theophylact of Ohrid: But her faith seems still imperfect: Lord, if You had been here, my brother had not died.

Alcuin of York: It is as if to say, "Lord, while You were with us, no disease or sickness dared to show itself among those with whom the Life deigned to make His home."

St. Augustine of Hippo: O faithless assembly! While You are still in the world, Lazarus Your friend dies! If the friend cries, what will the enemy suppose? Is it a small thing that they will not serve You on earth? Behold, hell has taken Your beloved.

The Venerable Bede: Mary did not say as much as Martha; she could not say what she wanted to because of her weeping, as is usual for those overwhelmed with sorrow.