Albert Barnes

But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

“Not the words ... - His words are sober, grave, pious, full of wisdom. The preaching of Jesus always produced effect. It made bitter enemies or decided friends. So will all faithful preaching.”

“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.

“I told you - It is not recorded that Jesus had told them in so many words that he was the Christ, but he had used expressions designed to convey the same truth, and which many of them understood as claiming to be the Messiah.”

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

“My sheep - My church, my people, those who have the true spirit of my followers. The name is given to his people because it was an illustration which would be well understood in a country abounding in flocks.”

My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

“Which gave them me - See Joh 6:37. Is greater - Is more powerful. Than all - Than all others - men, angels, devils.”

At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.

“The Jews took up stones - Stoning was the punishment of a blasphemer, Lev 24:14-16. They considered him guilty of blasphemy because he made himself equal with God, Joh 10:33.”

“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”

“For blasphemy - See the notes at Mat 9:3. Makest thyself God - See the notes at Joh 5:18. This shows how they understood what he had said. Makest thyself - Dost claim to be God, or thy language implies this.”

At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.

“Sought again to take him - They evidently understood him as still claiming equality with God, and under this impression Jesus left them. Nor can it be doubted that he intended to leave them with this impression; and if so, then he is divine.”

Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”

“No miracle - He did not confirm his mission by working miracles, but he showed that he was a prophet by foretelling the character and success of Jesus.”

At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

“A certain man was sick - The resurrection of Lazarus has been recorded only by John. Various reasons have been conjectured why the other evangelists did not mention so signal a miracle.”

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”

“Whom thou lovest - Joh 11:5. The members of this family were among the few special and intimate friends of our Lord.”

So on hearing that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days,

“He abode two days - Probably Lazarus died soon after the messengers left him. Jesus knew that (Joh 11:11), and did not hasten to Judea, but remained two days longer where he was, that there might not be the possibility of doubt that he was…”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.

“Twelve hours - The Jews divided the day from sunrise to sunset into twelve equal parts. A similar illustration our Saviour uses in Joh 9:4-5. See the notes at that place. If any man walk - If any man travels.”

After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”

“Lazarus sleepeth - Is dead. The word “sleep” is applied to death, 1. Because of the resemblance between them, as sleep is the “kinsman of death.” In this sense it is often used by pagan writers. 2.”

and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

“I am glad ... - The meaning of this verse may be thus expressed: “If I had been there during his sickness, the entreaties of his sisters and friends would have prevailed with me to restore him to health.”

When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb.

“In the grave - It was sometimes the custom to embalm the dead, but in this case it does not seem to have been done. He was probably buried soon after death.”

and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.

“Many of the Jews - Probably their distant relatives or their friends. To comfort - These visits of consolation were commonly extended to seven clays (Grotius; Lightfoot).”

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

“Thy brother shall rise again - Martha had spoken of the power of Jesus. He said nothing of himself in reply. It was not customary for him to speak of himself, unless it was demanded by necessity.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

“I am the resurrection - I am the author or the cause of the resurrection. It so depends on my power and will, that it may be said that I am the resurrection itself.”

“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

“Yea, Lord - This was a noble confession. It showed her full confidence in him as the Messiah, and her full belief that all that he said was true. See Mat 16:16.”

When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to…

“Saying, She goeth unto the grave - Syriac, “They thought that she went to weep.” They had not heard Martha call her. The first days of mourning among the Jews were observed with great solemnity and many ceremonies of grief.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

“He groaned in the spirit - The word rendered “groaned,” here, commonly denotes to be angry or indignant, or to reprove severely, denoting violent agitation of mind. Here it also evidently denotes violent agitation - not from anger, but from grief.”

“Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered.

“Where have ye laid him? - Jesus spoke as a man. In all this transaction he manifested the deep sympathies of a man; and though he who could raise the dead man up could also know where he was, yet he chose to lead them…”

Jesus wept.

“Jesus wept - It has been remarked that this is the shortest verse in the Bible; but it is exceedingly important and tender. It shows the Lord Jesus as a friend, a tender friend, and evinces his character as a man.”

“Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”

“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.”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

“Lifted up his eyes - In an attitude of prayer. See Luk 18:13; Mat 14:19. I thank thee that thou hast heard me - It is possible that John has recorded only the sum or substance of the prayer on this occasion.”