Commentary on John, Book 28
Take away the stone — and do not roll it back§1
1The stone is only rolled away. The stone on the tomb had to be taken away entirely and not rolled back; the stone on the well only rolled away.
“If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” Whoever has not yet seen the glory is shown not yet to have believed.
Greek · §1
Μόνον ἀποκυλίεται· ἐχρῆν πάντη μὲν ἀρθῆναι τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ μνημείου λίθον καὶ μὴ πάλιν κυλισθῆναι· τὸν δὲ ἐπὶ τοῦ φρέατος ἀποκυλισθῆναι μόνον.
Ἐὰν πιστεύσῃς, ὄψῃ τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ· ὁ μὴ ἑωρακὼς τὴν δόξαν ἐλέγχεται μηδέπω πεπιστευκέναι.
Martha’s delay between ‘Take away the stone’ and the act§2
2The slowness of taking away the stone over the cave came from the dead man’s sister.
Between “Take away the stone” and “So they took away the stone” Martha’s words hindered: “Lord, already he smells, for it is the fourth day.”
Greek · §2
Ἡ βραδυτὴς τοῦ ἀρθῆναι τὸν ἐπικείμενον τῷ σπηλαίῳ λίθον ἀπὸ τῆς ἀδελφῆς τοῦ τετελευτηκότος γεγένηται.
Μεταξὺ τοῦ Ἄρατε τὸν λίθον καὶ τοῦ Ἦραν οὖν τὸν λίθον τὰ τῆς Μάρθας ἐνεπόδισεν· Ἤδη ὄζει, τεταρταῖος γάρ ἐστιν.
Nothing should stand between command and deed§3
3It is good that nothing stand between Jesus’ command and the deed of those commanded.
The one who postpones has a time of disobedience in the delay: “Do not put off returning to the Lord.”
Greek · §3
Καλὸν τὸ μηδὲν γενέσθαι μεταξὺ τῆς Ἰησοῦ προστάξεως καὶ τοῦ ἔργου τῶν προστασσομένων.
Ὁ ὑπερτιθέμενος παρακοῆς χρόνον ἔχει τὸν τῆς ἀναβολῆς· μὴ ἀνάμενε ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς κύριον.
Jesus lifts his eyes — disciples are not below§4
4 One must carefully watch Jesus’ eyes and their relation to people.
We learn that Jesus’ disciples are not below; therefore the teacher’s eyes are lifted toward them.
Greek · §4
Ἆρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ ἄνω καὶ εἶπεν· περὶ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν Ἰησοῦ ἐπιμελῶς τηρητέον.
Διδασκόμεθα ὅτι μὴ κάτω εἰσὶν οἱ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ μαθηταί· διόπερ ἐπαίρονται οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ τοῦ διδασκάλου εἰς αὐτούς.
Whom it befits to imitate Jesus lifting the eyes§5
5To show more clearly whom it already befits to imitate Jesus lifting his eyes upward:
Those among people living in flesh who are worthy and do not wage war according to the flesh.
Greek · §5
Εἰ σαφέστερον παραστῆσαι τίνι ἤδη καθήκει μιμεῖσθαι τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἄραντα τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἄνω.
Τοῖς ἀξίοις τῶν ἐν σαρκὶ ζώντων καὶ μὴ κατὰ σάρκα στρατευομένων.
Father, I thank you that you heard me§6
6Jesus lifted his eyes and, still about to pray, was already heard — and instead of petition gave thanks.
“Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me.”
Greek · §6
Ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἦρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἄνω καὶ ἔτι μέλλων εὔχεσθαι ἐπηκούσθη, καὶ ἀντὶ εὐχῆς εὐχαρίστησεν.
Πάτερ, εὐχαριστῶ σοι ὅτι ἤκουσάς μου· ἐγὼ δὲ ᾔδειν ὅτι πάντοτέ μου ἀκούεις.
Because of the crowd standing around§7
7“But I said this because of the crowd standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
He does not give thanks for his own sake as if unknown to the Father, but because of those standing around.
Greek · §7
Ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον τὸν περιεστῶτα εἶπον, ἵνα πιστεύσωσιν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας.
Οὐ δι᾽ ἑαυτὸν εὐχαριστεῖ ὡς ἀγνοούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρός, ἀλλὰ διὰ τοὺς περιεστῶτας.
Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep§8
8“Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep; but I go to awaken him.”
Ask whether Jesus fulfilled what follows from “has fallen asleep”; the disciples took it of ordinary sleep.
Greek · §8
Λάζαρος ὁ φίλος ἡμῶν κεκοίμηται· ἀλλὰ πορεύομαι ἵνα ἐξυπνίσω αὐτόν.
Ζητητέον εἰ πεπλήρωκεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸ ἐπιφερόμενον τῷ κεκοίμηται· οἱ μαθηταὶ περὶ τῆς κοιμήσεως τοῦ ὕπνου ἐνόησαν.
I am glad for your sake that I was not there§9
9“I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
His absence is arranged for greater faith from the raising of the four-day dead.
Greek · §9
Χαίρω δι᾽ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα πιστεύσητε, ὅτι οὐκ ἤμην ἐκεῖ· ἀλλὰ ἄγωμεν πρὸς αὐτόν.
Ἡ ἀπουσία οἰκονομεῖ μείζονα πίστιν ἐκ τῆς ἐγέρσεως τοῦ τεταρταίου.
Thomas: let us also go that we may die with him§10
10Thomas called the Twin said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
He speaks with a martyr’s love, not yet knowing the power of the resurrection.
Greek · §10
Εἶπεν οὖν Θωμᾶς ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος τοῖς συμμαθηταῖς· Ἄγωμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς ἵνα ἀποθάνωμεν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ.
Φιλομαρτύρως μὲν φθέγγεται, οὔπω δὲ εἰδὼς τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἀναστάσεως.
I am the resurrection and the life§11
11Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”
He does not only promise a future resurrection; being himself the resurrection he already acts.
Greek · §11
Εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἀνάστασις καὶ ἡ ζωή· ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ κἂν ἀποθάνῃ ζήσεται.
Οὐ μόνον μέλλουσαν ἀνάστασιν ἐπαγγέλλεται ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὸς ὢν ἡ ἀνάστασις ἐνεργεῖ ἤδη.
Do you believe this?§12
12“And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The question tests Martha and, through her, every believer.
Greek · §12
Καὶ πᾶς ὁ ζῶν καὶ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. πιστεύεις τοῦτο;
Ἡ ἐρώτησις δοκιμάζει τὴν Μάρθαν καὶ δι᾽ αὐτῆς πάντα πιστεύοντα.
Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ§13
13She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
The confession is good; yet works must also agree with faith concerning the glory of God.
Greek · §13
Λέγει αὐτῷ· Ναί, κύριε· ἐγὼ πεπίστευκα ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἐρχόμενος.
Καλὴ ἡ ὁμολογία· δεῖ δὲ καὶ τοῖς ἔργοις συμφωνεῖν τῇ πίστει περὶ τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ.
Where have you laid him?§14
14And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”
He does not ask from ignorance, but makes those who lead him partners in the arrangement.
Greek · §14
Καὶ εἶπεν· Ποῦ τεθείκατε αὐτόν; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Κύριε, ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε.
Οὐκ ἀγνοῶν ἐρωτᾷ, ἀλλὰ τοὺς ἄγοντας κοινωνοὺς ποιεῖ τῆς οἰκονομίας.
Jesus wept§15
15Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
He weeps condescending to human nature, loving his friend.
Greek · §15
Ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι· Ἴδε πῶς ἐφίλει αὐτόν.
Δακρύει συγκαταβαίνων τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ φύσει, φιλῶν τὸν φίλον.
Could not this man who opened eyes have kept Lazarus from dying?§16
16Some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have done something so that this man would not die?”
The puzzle moves toward greater glory: not only to prevent death but to raise a four-day dead man.
Greek · §16
Τινὲς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν εἶπαν· Οὐκ ἐδύνατο οὗτος ὁ ἀνοίξας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ τυφλοῦ ποιῆσαι ἵνα καὶ οὗτος μὴ ἀποθάνῃ;
Ἡ ἀπορία εἰς μείζονα δόξαν χωρεῖ· οὐ μόνον κωλῦσαι θάνατον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐγεῖραι τεταρταῖον.
Lazarus, come out!§17
17Having said this, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The loud voice of the life-giving Word reaches even into Hades’ region.
Greek · §17
Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἐκραύγασεν· Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω.
Ἡ μεγάλη φωνὴ τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ λόγου διικνεῖται καὶ εἰς ᾅδου χώραν.
The dead man came out, bound hand and foot§18
18The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.
He comes out living, yet still needs release from death’s bonds by those who serve.
Greek · §18
Ἐξῆλθεν ὁ τεθνηκὼς δεδεμένος τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας κειρίαις, καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτοῦ σουδαρίῳ περιεδέδετο.
Ζῶν μὲν ἐξέρχεται, ἔτι δὲ τῶν νεκρικῶν δεσμῶν χρήζει ἀπολύσεως ὑπὸ τῶν διακονούντων.
Unbind him and let him go§19
19Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
He gives the disciples the loosing of the bonds: he himself makes alive; they set free.
Greek · §19
Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Λύσατε αὐτὸν καὶ ἄφετε αὐτὸν ὑπάγειν.
Τοῖς μαθηταῖς δίδωσιν τὴν λύσιν τῶν δεσμῶν· αὐτὸς μὲν ζωοποιεῖ, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἀπολύουσιν.
Many of the Jews believed; some went to the Pharisees§20
20 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
The same sign becomes faith for some and accusation for others.
Greek · §20
Πολλοὶ οὖν ἐκ τῶν Ἰουδαίων… ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτόν. τινὲς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀπῆλθον πρὸς τοὺς Φαρισαίους καὶ εἶπαν αὐτοῖς ἃ ἐποίησεν Ἰησοῦς.
Τὸ αὐτὸ σημεῖον τοῖς μὲν εἰς πίστιν, τοῖς δὲ εἰς κατηγορίαν γίνεται.
Caiaphas: it is better that one man die for the people§21
21Caiaphas said, “You know nothing at all. You do not understand that it is better for you that one man die for the people.”
Jesus was about to die for the nation; as high priest that year he prophesies not from himself.
Greek · §21
Εἷς δέ τις ἐξ αὐτῶν Καϊάφας… εἶπεν· Ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε οὐδέν, οὐδὲ λογίζεσθε ὅτι συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἄνθρωπος ἀποθάνῃ ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαοῦ.
Ἔμελλεν Ἰησοῦς ἀποθνῄσκειν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἔθνους· προφητεύει οὐκ ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ ἀρχιερεὺς ὢν τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἐκείνου.
Not for the nation only, but to gather the children of God§22
22And not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Jesus’ death is a gathering of the scattered into unity.
Greek · §22
Καὶ οὐχ ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἔθνους μόνον, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα καὶ τὰ τέκνα τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ διεσκορπισμένα συναγάγῃ εἰς ἕν.
Ὁ θάνατος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ συναγωγὴ τῶν διεσκορπισμένων εἰς ἑνότητα.
From that day they plotted to kill him§23
23So from that day they plotted to kill him.
The making-alive of Lazarus plots death against the Life-giver.
Greek · §23
Ἀπ᾽ ἐκείνης οὖν τῆς ἡμέρας ἐβουλεύσαντο ἵνα ἀποκτείνωσιν αὐτόν.
Ἡ ζωοποίησις τοῦ Λαζάρου θάνατον βουλεύεται τῷ ζωοποιῷ.
Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews§24
Openness was the “Thus says the Lord”; now he withdraws by arrangement.
Greek · §24
Ὁ οὖν Ἰησοῦς οὐκέτι παρρησίᾳ περιεπάτει ἐν τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθεν… εἰς Ἐφραὶμ.
Ἡ παρρησία ἦν τὸ Τάδε λέγει κύριος· νῦν δὲ οἰκονομικῶς ὑποχωρεῖ.
The Passover near; they sought Jesus§25
25 They were seeking Jesus and saying, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”
The feast-keeping crowd seeks the true Passover.
Greek · §25
Ἦν δὲ ἐγγὺς τὸ πάσχα τῶν Ἰουδαίων… ἐζήτουν οὖν τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἔλεγον… Τί δοκεῖ ὑμῖν; ὅτι οὐ μὴ ἔλθῃ εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν;
Ὁ ἑορτάζων ὄχλος ζητεῖ τὸν ἀληθινὸν πάσχα.
Orders to report him; close of Book 28§26
26The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, so that they might seize him.
So much for the twenty-eighth tome on Lazarus’s raising and what follows.
Greek · §26
Δεδώκεισαν δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ἐντολὰς ἵνα ἐάν τις γνῷ ποῦ ἐστιν μηνύσῃ, ὅπως πιάσωσιν αὐτόν.
Ταῦτα μὲν εἰς τὸν ὀκτωκαιδέκατον καὶ εἰκοστὸν τόμον περὶ τῆς Λαζάρου ἐγέρσεως καὶ τῶν ἑξῆς.