John Calvin Commentary John 11:31

"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." — John 11:31 (ASV)

Then the Jews who were with her. Though Martha was permitted by Christ to return home to withdraw her sister from the large crowd, Christ had another purpose in mind: that the Jews might be witnesses of the miracle. True, they had no thought of this, but it was nothing new for people to be led, as it were, in darkness and by the secret providence of God, where they did not intend to go.

They think that Mary is going to the tomb, according to the custom of those who seek ways to intensify their grief. For it is a very common affliction that husbands deprived of their wives, parents deprived of their children, and, conversely, wives deprived of their husbands, and children deprived of their parents or other relatives and friends, are eager to increase their grief by every possible method. It is also customary to resort to various devices for this purpose.

Human emotions are already disordered enough; but it is still worse when people inflame them further with new provocations, so that they may rush against God with greater passion and violence. It was their duty to dissuade Mary from going, so that the sight of the tomb might not give renewed cause for her grief. Yet they do not venture to apply such a harsh remedy, but instead even contribute to her excessive grief by accompanying her to the tomb. Thus it frequently happens that those who treat the immoderate reactions of their friends too gently do them little good with their consolations.