John 11:33–35

In the fifth place, is recorded Christs tender sympathy with Mary and her afflicted company, in this strait, which leads him to the doing of the miracle. The occasion hereof, is, his observing of Maries sorrow, with the sorrow of these who were in her company to comfort her. His carriage, or the expression of his sympathy upon this, consists in these. 1. He groaned in spirit, and was troubled, or troubled himselfe, ver. 33. The word rendred groaning, doth properly signifie to have indignation, and consequently, strictly to charge under pain of displeasure. And so it may point out his indignation, not only at their weaknesse, evidenced in the way of their expressions to him, but chiefly, against sin and Satan that brought on all this misery: But certainly, the root of all this, was his tender respect to Lazarus, and to Maries trouble and affliction. 2. Being thus affected, he enquires for the grave, that he may give a proofe of his sympathy, and being desired to come and see, he goeth on toward it, as appears from the following purpose, ver. 34. 3. Being in the way to the grave, the exercise of his spirit burst out in weeping, ver. 35.

From ver. 33. Learn, 1. Whatever be the expressions of any to Christ, yet the chiefe thing he looks to, is, what they expresse of an affected and sensible heart, in that wherein they employ him; Therefore, without heeding her language, it is remarked, he saw her weeping. 2. It is commendable in men, to be compassionate, and to joine with friends in their sorrows; for, the Jewes are also weeping, which came with her. 3. None will prove able comforters of friends in distresse, but those who take deep impression of their sorrows; for their who came to comfort her, ver. 31. are also weeping with her, 4. Albeit Christ will respect the sorrows of any of one mourner, yet it is a good token, when the sorrows of many concurre to plead with him for pity; for, it is when he saw her weeping, and the Jewes also weeping with her that his compassion burst, forth. 5. Christ will have some respect, even to the griefe of natural men, joining with his people, to lament their or his Churches sorrows; for, albeit there Jewes were as yet unconverted, yet their weeping with Mary hath its own weight with him: He who respects the cry of young ravens and Lions Joh 38.41. Psal 104.21. and the mourning of a desolate land, Jer. 12.11. doth certainly respect the sorrows of men, as they are men, and particularly, when their sorrow is for a right cause. 6. Christ hath not only divine power, as God, to relieve his own, but as man also, he hath compassion and a tender heart, to take an impression of their difficulties, when they are affected with them, for, weeping Mary meets with a tender compassionate Christ here. And this may give Saints boldnesse to come to him, Heb. 4.15, 16. Especially considering that we cannot have sorrow, but he hath an eye to observe it, that he may sympathize, as Mary here findes: And it may make trouble sweet us considering that we have such a sympathizer. 7. Albeit Christ do not at first cure the troubles of his own; yet he doth sympathize with them under them. He will first put the afflicted in his heart, and then cure their disease; for, here he first sympathizes, and then raiseth Lazarus. And in this respect he bare all the sicknesses which he cured, Matth 3.16, 17. 8. The difficulties of the Lords people do not only waken at his affection and sympathize with them; but this his sympathy will burst forth in indignation against all their enemies and causes of their troubles; for, so much also doth his groaning in the spirit, import, that his indignation was kindled against Satan and sin, that drew on death and all this sorrow. 9. The nature of his commotion, and that he troubled himselfe, as it is in the Original; doth teach. 1. Christ our Lord was not muddy in his affections, nor overpowered by them; but he had them at his command; His commotions of minde were not only like the shaking of pure water in a clear glasse, which still remains clear; but they arose, and were calmed, at his pleasure. And albeit this was proper and peculiar to himselfe, who was true God, and the spotlesse Lamb of God; Yet if we were more neer him, and like him, we would finde our affections to be more servants, and lesse Masters; And without this, our very good affections are oft-times so muddy, that they marre us; Our earnest desires after good are poisoned with impatient hast, and our very joy may marre beleeving, Luk 24.41. 2. Our Lord hath not these affections, which are needful for his peoples help, far to seek; but they are ready to burst forth at his call; for, when Maries condition needs sympathy, he troubled himselfe. And so we, who need sutable affections, and a right frame of spirit, when many times we cannot attain them; yea, oft-times our diligence in seeking them, puts us further from them, by reason of our not taking a right way; If we could employ faith in him, who can command these affections in himselfe, he could also soone give them unto us.

From ver. 34. Learn, 1. Christs tender affection and sympathy with his people will not lie hid in his heart, not expresse it selfe only in some affectionate expressions; but will at last produce glorious actings for them; for, the fruit of his groaning and trouble, is, his enquity for the grave, that he may raise Lazarus. 2. Christ takes pleasure to answer his peoples necessities, by deeds as well as by words, and (so to say) to do and act his love, as well as to say it; Yea, in great necessities, he will not delay his peoples help so long as even to comfort them by words; Therefore, albeit it be his ordinary way, to comfort his people, first by promises, Zech 1. 13. and then, by actings; and albeit he dealt so with Martha; Yet, seeing Maries great need and his heart being weighted, he sayes no more, but will go to the action. 3. Albeit Christ will speedily help his needy people, yet he will so order his working, as his glory may be most conspicuous in it; Therefore, albeit he could have raised Lazarus, and made him come to them where they stood; and albeit he knew well enough where the grave was; yet he will enquire for it, and have them to conduct him to it, that so he may free this miracle from any suspition of illusion, and may have them to be witnesses of his glory in it.

From ver. 35. Learn, 1. As the Sonne of God did take on mans nature, and dwelt in our flesh, that he might lay a foundation of reconciliation betwixt God and man, in his own person; So also he did take on these sinlesse affections and infirmities, which might not only prove him to be true man, but that he is a kindly brother and kinsman to miserable men, and might be a fit conduct to conveigh these bowels of compassion that are in God, toward lost man; for, so much is evidenced by his weeping. 2. Christ, in the daies of his flesh, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefes, that therein men might read the bitter fruits of sinne, and they who flee to him, may have matter of joy for ever; Therefore, it is marked that Jesus wept, which also was his frequent practice. See Heb. 5.7. 3. Christ hath no light touch of the miseries of his own, but they do deeply afflict and affect him; for, he groans and is troubled, till he wept again. 4. Christ allowes not that his affection and sympathy be hid from his afflicted people; but he would have them knowing it, and convinced of it; for, therefore, doth his groaning and trouble burst forth in weeping, to be discerned by the beholders, as ver. 36. 5. Christs tendernesse and affection to his afflicted people will not long be hid or concealed, but it will burst forth through never so many clouds; for, when he is troubled, he will at last weep also in view of them all. Thus when he is dealing most harshly with the woman of Canaan, yet at last his heart cannot hide it selfe, Matth. 15.22, &c. And in this, Joseph, in his dealing with his brethren, was a type of him. 6. Christs inward exercise bursting forth in weeping, may serve also further to teach. 1. That all who get their bitter and sad exercise and sorrows suppressed that they break not out to the dishonour of God, or weakening of the hands of others, have him to acknowledge, who by venting his sorrows, both here, and elsewhere, especially on the crosse, Matth. 27.46. hath shut up theirs. 2. That, on the other hand, when griefes and sorrowes will not smother, that lot may be sanctified in his person, and we may have him for a companion, who knoweth the heart of such a one.