ACC ~ John 11 v11 - 16

OVERVIEW:

The fact that Jesus says Lazarus is only sleeping is a promise of things to come since, from Jesus’ perspective, Lazarus was sleeping and not dead (AUGUSTINE). Jesus did not need to go to Lazarus to raise him, but he chose to go so that no one could doubt that he had performed the miracle (HIPPOLYTUS). Thinking this was another one of Jesus’ enigmatic statements (CHRYSOSTOM), the disciples misunderstand what Jesus means about Lazarus sleeping, unaware of what kind of sleep it was (ROMANUS). They are soon informed that Lazarus has died, returning to the clay from which he was taken (POTAMIUS). But Jesus does not yet tell them that he is going to raise Lazarus (CHRYSOSTOM), knowing that he had been sent to heal sickness, but it was death that could not remain in hiding from him (AUGUSTINE). Unlike normal physicians, who wear themselves out to save life, Lazarus’s physician waited for his death in order to establish the victory of life over death (EPHREM). Jesus uses Lazarus’s death, in other words, to establish his disciples’ faith (HIPPOLYTUS). His delay not only ensures Lazarus’s death will occur but was also necessary, since his love might otherwise have moved him to heal Lazarus, leaving no opportunity for the greater miracle of resurrection. Knowing that Lazarus has died, he then decides to go to him and Thomas volunteers to go with him, asserting that he will join Jesus in death. This is either an expression of audacity from one who has a false sense of bravery, although he may indeed have understood Jesus’ true power over death (CYRIL), or it is the expression of a coward who later, however, is the most zealous of the disciples (CHRYSOSTOM). Or, perhaps Thomas unwittingly knows that one must die with Jesus in order to live with him (ORIGEN).

11:11 | Lazarus Sleeps

FROM JESUS’ PERSPECTIVE, LAZARUS WAS SLEEPING

AUGUSTINE It was really true that he was sleeping. To his sisters he was dead; to our Lord, he was sleeping. To those who could not raise him again, he was dead. Our Lord awoke him with as much ease from his grave as you might awake a sleeper from his bed. He calls him then “asleep,” with reference to his own power, … as the apostle says, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, concerning those who are asleep.” [1] … Asleep, he says, because he is foretelling their resurrection. And so, all the dead are sleeping, both good and bad. But just as it matters to those who sleep and wake again daily, what they see in their sleep—some having pleasant dreams, others nightmares so scary that they are afraid to fall asleep again in case they reoccur—so it is [in death]. Everyone sleeps and wakes up again in circumstances peculiar to his own situation. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.9. [2]

[1] 1 Thess 4:13.

[2] NPNF 1 7:273**; CCL 36:424.

JESUS’ PRESENCE CONFIRMS HE PERFORMED A MIRACLE

HIPPOLYTUS For truly the death of human beings is counted with the Lord as sleep. Why does he say “I go”? Are you unable to enliven the dead while remaining here? But, [Jesus says], the Jews in my absence do not receive the grace. For perhaps on his arising they will think Lazarus has come to life by some chance. I therefore am coming so that, if I am there, they will be eyewitnesses of the miracles done by me. And when they receive this grace from me, they can then be brought to a sure and certain faith. ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. [1]

[1] AEG 4:166*; GCS 1 2:217.

ANOTHER ENIGMATIC STATEMENT OF JESUS?

CHRYSOSTOM If anyone asks, “How did the disciples imagine Lazarus was only sleeping? Why didn’t they understand that death was meant when Jesus said, ‘I go to awake him?’ for it was foolishness of them to expect that he would go fifteen stadia [1] to awake him”—we would reply, that they thought this was another one of Jesus’ dark sayings, such as he often spoke to them. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 62.2. [2]

THE DISCIPLES ARE IGNORANT, BUT PAUL WOULD HAVE KNOWN

ROMANUS MELODUS:

Again the Lord spoke to the disciples;

“See now, Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep,

And I wish to go and awaken him.”

But they did not understand that the Redeemer referred to death as sleep,

Indeed if Paul had been there, [3] he would have known the word of the Word,

For, instructed by Him, he sent to his churches epistles

Calling the dead those who have fallen asleep.

For who can die if he loves Christ? How can he fall if he eats the living bread? [4]

He has in his heart the miracle

As a phylactery, [5] so even if he perish,

He will be resurrected and he will rise up

Saying, “Thou art the Life and the Resurrection.”

KONTAKION ON THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 14.6. [6]

[1] About two miles.

[2] NPNF 1 14:228**.

[3] Paul makes the connection: 1 Cor 15:20; 1 Thess 4:13.

[4] Jn 6:51.

[5] The editor notes phylacteries were used to ward off illness and accidents. They were also used as reminders of the law among the Pharisees.

[6] KRBM 1:142-43.

11:12-13 | If Asleep, He Will Recover

SLEEP EXISTS FOR ONE’S SAFETY

ROMANUS MELODUS:

The Creator of all spoke on behalf of the disciples, saying: “Friends and companions, our friend has fallen asleep.”

He was secretly teaching them in advance, because he knows and cares for all things—

“Let us go, then, let us advance and see the unusual tomb,

And let us cause the mourning of Mary and Martha to cease

As I raise up Lazarus from the tomb,

and as the Merciful One take pity on The tears of Mary and Martha.”

When they heard these words, the apostles as with one voice cried out to the Lord,

“Sleep exists for man for his safety and not at all for his destruction.”

And so He spoke to them openly: “He is dead.

As mortal I am away from him; but as God, I know all things.

If we truly arrive in time,

I shall resurrect the dead, and cause to cease

The tears of Mary and Martha.”

KONTAKION ON THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 15.4-5.

11:14 | Lazarus Is Dead

LAZARUS BEGINS TO BE WHAT HE HAD BEEN

POTAMIUS OF LISBON Lazarus, this intimate friend of God, died, as is known through the testimony of the Gospel. According to John, for forty years he had compensated for the losses of the flesh by the actions of his will. And so after a quick death which was due to his earthly frame, that is, to earth itself more than humanity—according to the book of Genesis [1] the rich fluidity of clay is responsible for us as well—while Christ the judge was far away, imparting the gifts of salvation on the borders of Judea, Lazarus was buried and placed in the tomb in order that he might begin to be what he had been—clay. ON LAZARUS. [2]

[1] See Gen 2:7.

[2] CCL 69A:166.

NO HINT YET OF THE MIRACLE TO COME

CHRYSOSTOM When he said, “He sleeps,” he added, “I go to awake him.” But when he said, “He is dead,” he did not add, “I go to raise him.” For he would not foretell in words what he was about to confirm by his deeds. He is always teaching us not to look for glory and not to make promises without a reason for doing so. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 62.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:228**.

PHYSICIANS NORMALLY DO EVERYTHING TO SAVE LIFE

EPHREM THE SYRIAN All physicians wear themselves out for their patient lest he die. But Lazarus’s physician was waiting for his death in order to show his victory over death. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 17.3. [1]

[1] ECTD 262*.

JESUS HEALS DEATH

AUGUSTINE He had been sent for in order to restore Lazarus from sickness, not from death. But how could the death be hidden from him into whose hands the soul of the dead had flown? TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.11. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:274**; CCL 36:425.

11:15 | For Your Sake I Am Glad I Was Not There

ESTABLISHING THE DISCIPLES’ FAITH

HIPPOLYTUS Is he who does not desire the death of a sinner, [1] now glad of the death of a friend? I rejoice, [Jesus says], not for my own sake, nor for the sake of the dead, but for your sake. For I need this death as the foundation for your faith. ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. [2]

[1] Ezek 18:23, 32; 33:11.

[2] AEG 4:167*; GCS 1 2:218.

CHRIST’S LOVE WOULD HAVE OVERCOME HIM

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA Here it is as though Jesus says, If I had been there, he would not have died, because I would have had pity on him when he was suffering only a little. But now in my absence his death has taken place, so that, by raising him to life I shall bestow upon you a great advantage through your faith in me. And Christ says this, not to indicate that he is only able to do his divine work when present, but rather to show that if he had been present he would not have been able to neglect helping his friend who was dying. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 7. [1]

[1] LF 48:114-15**.

11:16 | That We May Die with Him

THOMAS LATER BECOMES THE MOST ZEALOUS OF ALL THE DISCIPLES

CHRYSOSTOM Some say that Thomas himself wanted to die. But this is not the case. The expression is rather one of cowardice. And yet Christ does not rebuke him but instead supports his weakness. The result is that in the end he became stronger than them all—in fact, invincible. For the wonderful thing is this: We see one who was so weak before the crucifixion become more tenacious than any of them after the crucifixion and after he comes to believe in the resurrection. This is how great the power of Christ was. The very man who dared not go in company with Christ to Bethany, the same person, while not seeing Christ, ran practically through the entire inhabited world, living in the midst of nations that were full of murder and wanting to kill him. [1] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 62.2. [2]

[1] Eugene LaVerdiere, in his article on Thomas in EEC 900, notes that Thomas was particularly influential in early church history as an apostle to Syria and its environs. Eusebius says he brought the Gospel to Parthia (Ecclesiastical History 3.1). Jerome and Rufinus of Aquileia (Ecclesiastical History 2.4) mention his influence in Persia. Gregory of Nazianzus in his Oration 25, as well as the Acts of Thomas 1, note that he preached the gospel in India where he also ultimately received martyrdom.

[2] NPNF 1 14:228**.

THOMAS EXPECTS DEATH WHEN HE SHOULD EXPECT LIFE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA There is audacity in Thomas’s words, but also timidity. It was the outflow of a devout heart, but it was mixed with a small faith. For he does not endure being left behind and even tries to persuade the others to adopt a similar resolution. Nevertheless, he thinks that they are destined to suffer [death] at the hands of the Jews, even against the will of Christ. … He neglects to look at the power of the Deliverer as he should have. And Christ made them timid, by enduring with patience beyond measure the sufferings he did experience at the hands of the Jews. Thomas therefore says that they should not separate themselves from their teacher, although undoubted danger lay before them. So, perhaps with a knowing smile, he said, “Let us go,” that is, “Let us die.” Or, maybe he meant, If we go, we certainly will die. Nevertheless, let us not refuse to suffer, for that would be too cowardly. Because if he raises from the dead, fear is superfluous seeing that we have someone who is able to raise us again after we have fallen. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 7. [1]

[1] LF 48:115**. Theodore expresses many of the same points.

THOMAS MUST DIE WITH JESUS IN ORDER TO LIVE WITH HIM

ORIGEN Perhaps Thomas also knew that it would not be possible to live with Jesus except by having died with him, as Paul taught. [1] But those who disagree say that he said this because he suspected the envy of the Jews that would arise from the resurrection of Lazarus, and the ensuing danger. FRAGMENT 79 ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. [2]

[1] Rom 6:8.

[2] AEG 4:167*; GCS 10(4):546.