John 11

What will not a Father grant his Son? John 11:42: I know that you always hear me. If God could forget that Christ were a Priest, yet he cannot forget that he is a Son.

Did not Israel question God's power? Can he prepare a table in the wilderness? (Psalm 78:19) they thought the wilderness was a fitter place for making of graves, than spreading of a table. Did not Martha doubt of Christ's power? (John 11:39) He has been dead four days. If Christ…

3. Christ prays that the saints may have this kingdom settled upon them, (John 17:24) Father I will that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that is, in heaven. This is Christ's prayer that the saints may be with him in his kingdom, and be bespangled with som…

How powerful must Christ's prayer needs be. He is a favorite (John 11:42). He is both a high priest and a son, if God could forget that Christ were a priest, yet he cannot forget that he is a son; besides, Christ prays for nothing but what is agreeable to his Father's will, if a…

Now eight days after, our Savior Christ appeared again to all the disciples, especially for the curing of Thomas his unbelief, which was no small sin, considering it contains in it three great sins. The first is blindness of mind, for he had been a hearer of our Savior Christ a…

It is Seneca's observation, and experimentally true, that even sorrow itself has a certain kind of delight attending it. The Jews that were with Mary in the house to comfort her, when they saw that she went out hastily, followed her, saying, she goes to the grave to weep there (…

How little pains he takes to escape them; yes, when Peter labors to dissuade him (Matthew 16) from suffering, he disdains and rejects the suggestion with a severe rebuke: Get behind me, Satan, you are an offense to me, you do not savor the things that be of God but of men. And w…

You have the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God — there is much in these words, we believe and are sure that it is so. A fourth place is John 11:27, and it is Martha's confession: Yes, Lord, I believe that you ar…

And verse 16, some that were not for the time professing themselves to be his people, are reckoned: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring in. Nor 3. Can it be limited to them that were actually converted and believers, for he says (as I just now h…

It heightens not their praise that all of every kindred, and tongue, and nation were redeemed, but this does it — that when the Lord had the whole world before him, he was graciously pleased to purchase and redeem them out of it. That, as it is (John 11:52), he should gather tog…

3. He performs this his intercession by his constant care, and by his continual willingness, and actual willing, that what he has purchased for his elect people may be applied to them; that such and such persons may be brought to believe, that upon their believing they may be pa…

Therefore, (1 John 2:2) it's said, If any man sin: O, strange word, We have an advocate, what, an advocate for any man? Indeed, for any man that will make use of him: for as we showed before, though it's true that his intercession is bounded to his elect, yet it's as true, that…

But 2. There is not only consolation for a believer's particular condition from this ground, but also in reference to the public case of God's Church: There are four things especially, that seem very heavy to the Church, and public work of God; in reference to all which we will…

It is as much as he has left no cross, no shame at all to be suffered by us; and (Philippians 2:8), he was obedient to the Father: he says not to the death, but to death, even death of the Cross, [illegible]. It holds forth to us, that Christ suffered so much for us, as he has t…

Now the Law had a promise of life, if you do this, you live eternally, but God neither did work, nor was tied by the tenor of that Covenant, to work in us to do, to will, to continue, to abide in all written in the Law of God to the end, and therefore it was a broken Covenant. N…

(Mark 14:14): "This is my blood of the New Testament, that is shed for many," as (Romans 5:15): "Through the offence of one, many were dead" — that is, all were dead. So the sheep of Christ (John 10:11), the scattered sons of God (John 11:52), his people (Matthew 1:21), his bret…

What man is he that can deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? (Psalm 49). And if the soul be severed from the body: no man can quicken his own soul, that is beyond the power and reach of the creature, death is the passage to eternal life, and this passage is of invincible…

This reason is taken from the faithfulness of God in the promise, and from the suitableness of God's will to ours, when we so pray. Reason 2. Secondly, it is taken from the mighty power of the name of Christ, whenever we use his name in prayer, not in lip labor; but when we pray…

It is true the deserved wages of all unrighteousness is to death, but there is a sin that is not to death, not that there is any sin, which does not deserve death, but not that which does undoubtedly cut off a man from all hopes of life, but notwithstanding that sin he may be co…

And therefore let us not tempt him by confining him to our time, means and manner. He may love us, and yet delay our help (John 11:5-6): Jesus loved Lazarus, and yet verse 6: When he heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then for his pow…

I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined to me, and heard my cry. God will not fail a waiting soul, his delay is no denial, nor a sign of want of love to you (John 11:5). Jesus loved Lazarus, and yet verse 6: When he had heard that he was sick, he abode two days still in…

Therefore we are sure that Christ is present with us, and that he teaches and speaks in the midst of us and in our church. As for the false Apostles, if they be anything, they are but sent either of men or by men: but I am sent of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ, who is our…

Now Christ was alway heard in that which he praied for. Ioh. 11. 42. Lastly, upon the life of Christ, which is communicated to all his liuing members, Gal. 2. v. 20.

He gave sight to the blind, in order to show that he is “the light of the world,” (John 8:12). He restored life to the dead, to prove that he is “the resurrection and the life,” (John 11:25). Similar observations might be made as to those who were lame, or had palsy.

A woman, who had been possessed by seven devils, and might be said to have been the meanest slave of Satan, was not merely honored to be his disciple, but admitted to enjoy his society. Luke adds the surname Magdalene, to distinguish her from the sister of Martha, and other pers…

The meaning therefore is, that by the spirit of prophecy he spoke of his own death, which no man could have suspected to be so near at hand. John explains the reason why the scribes and priests held this meeting: it was because, from day to day, the people flocked to Christ in g…

For Cyril has properly said: “That the suffering of Christ on the cross was not in every respect voluntary, but that it was voluntary on account of the will of the Father, and on account of our salvation, you may easily learn from his prayer, Father, if it be possible, let this…

This was not, indeed, the lawful preaching of the Gospel, for Pilate was unworthy to be employed by God as a witness for his Son; but what was afterwards to be accomplished by the true ministers was prefigured in Pilate. In short, we may look upon him to be a herald of Christ in…

The accompanying of others in a Neighbourly civil Visit, has been over-rul'd to the same end. Thus many of the Jews accompanied Mary unto Bethany, (designing only to manifest their civil respect) but there they met Christ, saw the things which he did, and believed on him, John 1…

So sanctification, is preparation. And (John 11:55), to name no more, the Jews' Passover was near at hand, and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves, or to sanctify themselves, that they might be fit and ready for the sacrifice. So…

Thus must we have him showed to us in this vale of tears, as he was showed to the patriarchs and prophets, that we may know him in this mortal life and believe in him, as they have done: and then surely shall he show himself well enough after this exiling and banishment. If else…

By Friends and Beloved, are understood believers, there are none other capable of these titles, and it was she that prayed, that is here understood by Friends and Beloved, and so he answers her. Hence we see, the believer is [reconstructed: a] Friend, as Abraham (James 2:23) and…

To gather, is a borrowed expression from men that use to gather some flowers they delight in, to bring to their chambers with them, or some fruits, that they may dress and prepare them, as we heard (chapter 5:1). Christ's gathering of his lilies, points, 1. At his calling of the…

2. For men of one stock and nation, so Samaria was sister to Jerusalem, etc. (Ezekiel 16:46). 3. For the elect who are yet unconverted, who are sisters in respect of God's purpose, as they are Christ's sheep (John 10:16), and sons of God (John 11:52), even before their conversio…

God loves to hide the particular way and path of his providence, so that your times shall seem not to have the least connection or respect to your hopes. 'Tis so in all his dealings; see (John 11:6): Jesus loved Lazarus, and when he heard he was sick he stayed two days — little…

A meek man will never be angry at a child, at a servant, at a friend, till he has first seriously weighed the cause in just and even balances, while a steady and impartial hand held the scales, and a free and unprejudiced thought had adjudged it necessary. It is said of our Lord…

That which beats swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning-hooks? Or, was he the author of a sect who is the great creator of unity, and who died to break down partition walls, and to slay all enmities (Ephesians 2:14-16; John 11:52), that he might gather together in one t…

Some things as mediator — so he prayed for his elect only, John 17:9. When he prayed as mediator, his Father always heard him and answered him, John 11:41. This then is the obedience of Christ, which was the first thing proposed to be considered.

They which love one another, will not be strange one to another; a man cannot be long out of the company of him whom he loves. Christ loved Lazarus, and Mary, and Martha (John 11:5), and therefore his great resort was to Bethany, to Lazarus's house. Surely they which love God, w…

Now therefore, just as to know the original cause of our death and damnation, we must not range beyond the fall of our first father Adam, because that by him sin entered into the world, and by sin, death (Romans 5:12): so to find our recovery and salvation, we must not seek else…

1. For consulting against them to their ruin. We have instances of a council gathered against Christ (John 11:47): Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man does many miracles. They meet together, and plot the ruin of Christ…

Did we sit more loose from our earthly comforts, it would not be so irksome to part with them. Grief is always a sign of affection (John 11:34): And Jesus wept, and then they said, Behold how he loved him. When we are surprised with so great sorrow and trouble at the parting of…

So men think they are going heaven-ward, when alas sin leads them to hell, while their eyes are shut, and they know not where they go. 5 Man's darkness is seen by this; That he stumbles, and knows not at what (John 11:9-10, Proverbs 4:19). Sinners are ever and anon stumbling at…

The Apostle tells us of some who (like Jannes and Jambres) resist the truth, and calls them men of corrupt (or rotten) minds: and Solomon gives us to know, that as a sound heart is the life of the flesh, so envy (anything opposed to the sound heart) is rottenness to the bones; i…

But Christ professed [reconstructed: otherwise], nor would not pray for the world (John 17:9). [reconstructed: I pray] not for the world; and the [reconstructed: text] proves it, for what Christ prays for, that he [reconstructed: obtains] (John 11:22, 42): I know that you hear m…

Break forth into thankfulness; though sin is not quite cured and there are still some grudgings of the disease, yet the reigning power of it is taken away. You are so healed that you shall not die (John 3:16; John 11:26). Those who were cured by the bronze serpent afterwards die…

Do we not see the chemist can out of several metals mingled together, as gold, silver, and alloy, extract the one from the other, the silver from the gold, the alloy from the silver, and can reduce every metal to its own species or kind: and shall we not much more believe, that…

Now God can deny Christ nothing, being the only favorite. I know you always hear me (John 11:42). Fifth, in regard of Christ's ascension: he is gone before to take possession of heaven for us.

This holy man had lost the sight for a time of the Almighty Power of God, and now he is projecting how this should be done; as if he had said in plain termes, How can this be accomplished? for so God interprets his reasoning, v. 23, And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lords han…

4. If Christ prayed for infants as Matthew says the mothers or parents sought that of him (Matthew 19:13) his prayers must be grounded upon the word of the Covenant, and what could he seek for infants' peace in these, but Covenant mercies and salvation: for Christ was not to wor…