John 11:39

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 11:39

Four days - This proves that there could be no deception, for it could not have been a case of suspended animation. All these circumstances are mentioned to show that there was no imposture. Impostors do not mention minute circumstances like these. They deal in generals only. Every part of this narrative bears the marks of truth. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 11:38-40

John 11:38-40. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it Or, as Dr. Campbell reads, shut up with a stone. The graves of the common people probably were digged like ours, but persons of distinction were, as with us, interred in vaults. So Lazarus was; and such was the sepulchre in which Christ was buried. See note on Matthew 27:60. Probably this custom was kept up among the Jews in imitation of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their wives, except Rachel, being buried in the cave... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 11:1-44

BACK TO JUDEA116. Resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:1-44)While Jesus was still in the region between the Jordan and Jerusalem, he heard that his friend Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, was seriously ill. Jesus did not hurry to Bethany, because he knew that Lazarus was already dead. By raising him to life, Jesus would give unmistakable evidence of his unity with the Father (John 11:1-6).After waiting two days, Jesus decided to set out for Bethany. The disciples tried to stop him, fearing that the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 11:39

four days. The Rabbis taught that the spirit wandered about for three days, seeking re-admission to the body, but abandoned it on the fourth day, as corruption began then. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 11:39

Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been dead four days.Take ye away the stone ... Jesus never did for any man what the man might do for himself. His divine power could have caused the stone to roll back of its own accord; but he commanded that men move it. The same principle is evident in the commandment a little later to "Loose him, and let him go." Here, as always, there was respect... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 11:39

John 11:39. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.— Our Lord could with infinite ease have commanded the stone to roll away of itself,without employing any to remove it. But he judiciously avoided all unnecessary pomp and parade, and mingled all the majestyof this astonishing miracle with the most amiable modesty and simplicity. Besides, he thus removed every the minutest suspicion of fraud; for they who removed the stone would have, from the putrified state of the body, sufficient evidence that... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 11:39

39-44. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone—spoken to the attendants of Martha and Mary; for it was a work of no little labor [GROTIUS]. According to the Talmudists, it was forbidden to open a grave after the stone was placed upon it. Besides other dangers, they were apprehensive of legal impurity by contact with the dead. Hence they avoided coming nearer a grave than four cubits [MAIMONIDES in LAMPE]. But He who touched the leper, and the bier of the widow of Nain's son, rises here also above... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 11:1-44

1. The seventh sign: raising Lazarus 11:1-44Jesus had presented Himself as the Water of Life, the Bread of Life, and the Light of Life. Now He revealed Himself as the resurrection and the life. This was the seventh and last of Jesus’ miraculous signs that John recorded, and it was the most powerful revelation of His true identity. [Note: See Edersheim, 2:308.] It shows Jesus’ authority over humankind’s greatest and last enemy: death. Some scholars view Jesus’ resurrection as one of His signs.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 11:38-44

Lazarus’ resurrection 11:38-44Jesus proceeded to vindicate His claim that He was the One who would raise the dead and provide life (John 11:25). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 11:39

Even though Martha had confessed her belief that Jesus would raise the dead she did not understand that Jesus planned to raise her brother immediately. Jesus had given her no reason to hope that He would. The Jews customarily wrapped the bodies of their dead in cloth and added spices to counteract the odors that decomposition produced. They did not embalm them as thoroughly as the Egyptians did. [Note: Sanders, p. 274, footnote 1.] Interestingly Martha did not appeal to Jesus on the basis of... read more

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