17 So when Jesus came , He found that he had already been in the tomb four days . 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem , about two miles off ; 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary , to console them concerning their brother . 20 Martha therefore , when she heard that Jesus was coming , went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house . 21 Martha then said to Jesus , " Lord , if You had been here , my brother would not have died . 22 "Even now I know that whatever e You ask of God , God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again ." 24 Martha said to Him, " I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day ." 25 Jesus said to her, " I am the resurrection and the life ; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies , 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never e die . Do you believe this ?" 27 She said to Him, "Yes , Lord ; I have believed that You are the Christ , the Son of God , even He who comes into the world ."
28 When she had said this , she went away and called Mary her sister , saying secretly , " The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village , but was still in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house , and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there . 32 Therefore , when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet , saying to Him, " Lord , if You had been here , my brother would not have died ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 11:17-32
Commentary on John 11:17-32
(Read John 11:17-32)
Here was a house where the fear of God was, and on which his blessing rested; yet it was made a house of mourning. Grace will keep sorrow from the heart, but not from the house. When God, by his grace and providence, is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort, we should, like Martha, go forth by faith, hope, and prayer, to meet him. When Martha went to meet Jesus, Mary sat still in the house; this temper formerly had been an advantage to her, when it put her at Christ's feet to hear his word; but in the day of affliction, the same temper disposed her to melancholy. It is our wisdom to watch against the temptations, and to make use of the advantages of our natural tempers. When we know not what in particular to ask or expect, let us refer ourselves to God; let him do as seemeth him good. To enlarge Martha's expectations, our Lord declared himself to be the Resurrection and the Life. In every sense he is the Resurrection; the source, the substance, the first-fruits, the cause of it. The redeemed soul lives after death in happiness; and after the resurrection, both body and soul are kept from all evil for ever. When we have read or heard the word of Christ, about the great things of the other world, we should put it to ourselves, Do we believe this truth? The crosses and comforts of this present time would not make such a deep impression upon us as they do, if we believed the things of eternity as we ought. When Christ our Master comes, he calls for us. He comes in his word and ordinances, and calls us to them, calls us by them, calls us to himself. Those who, in a day of peace, set themselves at Christ's feet to be taught by him, may with comfort, in a day of trouble, cast themselves at his feet, to find favour with him.