ACC ~ John 11 v3

DEATH HAS ROOM TO WORK

GREGORY OF NYSSA One of the Lord’s companions and friends is ill (Lazarus is the sick man’s name). The Lord refuses any visiting of his friend, though far away from the sick man, that in the absence of the Life, death might find room and power to do his own work by the agency of disease. ON THE MAKING OF MAN 25.11. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 5:416*.

FRIENDS OF CHRIST DO SUFFER

CHRYSOSTOM Many are offended when they see any of those who are pleasing to God suffering anything terrible. There are those, for instance, who have fallen ill or have become impoverished or have endured some other tragedy. Those who are offended by this do not know that those who are especially dear to God have it as their lot to endure such things, as we see in the case of Lazarus, who was also one of the friends of Christ but was also sick. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 62.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:227**.

CONQUERING DEATH MORE IMPORTANT

PETER CHRYSOLOGUS Our Lord had raised up the daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue. [1] Although he restored life to the dead girl, he left the law of death still in force. He also raised the widow’s only son. [2] He halted the bier, forestalled the young man’s burial, arrested the onset of physical decay. But the life he restored had not completely fallen in to the power of death. The case of Lazarus was unique. His death and resurrection to life had nothing in common with the other two. Death had already exerted its full power over him, so that in him the sign of the resurrection shone out in all its fullness. I think it is possible to say that if Lazarus had remained only three days in the tomb it would have deprived our Lord’s resurrection of its full significance, since Christ proved himself Lord by returning to life after three days, whereas Lazarus, as his servant, had to lie in the grave for four days before he was recalled. However, let us see if we can verify this suggestion by reading the Gospel text further.

“His sisters sent a message to Jesus saying, Lord, the friend whom you love is sick.” By these words they appeal to his affection, they lay claim to his friendship, they call on his love, urging their familiar relationship with him to persuade him to relieve their distress. But for Christ it was more important to conquer death than to cure disease. He showed his love for his friend not by healing him but by calling him back from the grave. Instead of a remedy for his illness, he offered him the glory of rising from the dead. SERMON 63.1-2. [3]

[1] See Mk 5:37-43; Lk 8:49-56.

[2] See Lk 7:11-15.

[3] JFA 44-45; PL 52:376.

LOVE DOES NOT ABANDON

AUGUSTINE But what was the message sent by his sisters? “Lord, behold, he whom you love is ill.” They did not say, “Come,” for the intimation was all that was needed for one who loved. They did not venture to say, “Come and heal him,” nor did they venture to say, “Command there, and it shall be done here.” And why would it be any different with them if, on these very grounds, the centurion’s faith was commended? For he said, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.” [1] These women said nothing like this, but only, “Lord, behold, he whom you love is ill”—as if to say: It is enough that you know. For you are not one that loves and then abandons. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.5. [2]

[1] Mt 8:8.

[2] NPNF 1 7:272**; CCL 36:422.