George Hutcheson
36 Then said the Jewes, Behold how he loved him.
37 And some of them said, Could not this man which opened the eyes of the blinde, have caused that even this man should not have died?
The sixth particular recorded, is the construction the Jewes had of Christs expressed sympathy: They observing his sorrow, do admire his love to dead Lazarus, and marvel that he who had wrought such wonders, might not also have prevented his death. It is most probable, that they who admire his love, were these Jewes who were best affected to Christ, though they have not yet beleeved on him, till afterward, ver. 45. and that they who wonder he had not prevented his dying, are these malicious Jewes, who after the miracle, went and informed the Rulers, ver. 46. and therefore the first sort are indifinitely named the Jewes here, who are called many, ver. 45. and the other sort are, both here, and ver. 46. called only some of them, Or, it may be conceived, that all of them concurring in wondering at his love to Lazarus, as a thing they could not deny, the more malicious sort do adde that cavil and exception.
From ver. 36. Learn, 1. Christs love to his people is a very captivating and ravishing meditation; for, that which took hold on them, and strikes them with admiration, is, he loved him, which was indeed a truth, that Christ as he pitied Mary and her sister, so he respected Lazarus especially, and therefore burst forth in sorrow, through affection to him and them, and through indignation at Satan and sin, which drew on these miseries. 2. The fountain of any compassion shewed by Christ to his own in misery, is not any worth in them, but his own free love; for, his compassionate weeping leads them up to his love, as the cause thereof. 3. Christ thinks no shame of his love to his people, but will avow it, and have it known sometime to beholders; for, he doth here so let it out as they mark it. See Rev. 3.9. 4. Christs sympathy and compassion toward his people, proves his love to them, although they get not visible out-gates from their troubles; for, upon his weeping, they gather, he loved him; his sympathy and tears prove love, albeit the man died. And indeed, they who get a sight of Christs tender heart, will beleeve his love, whatever his dispensations be. 5. Christs love and compassion is a wonder to them who know him not well; Yea, it is in it selfe admirable, and such as see it, will rather admire it, then know how to comprehend it: Behold, say they, how he loved him! See Eph 3.18, 19. 6. Christs love to his own will follow them even to their graves; As here he gives evidence how he loved him, when he is lying in his grave. And albeit every Saint do not meet with that proofe of love which Lazarus got, in being raised up again; yet that love rests upon them, till the general resurrection.
From ver. 37. Learn, 1. Christs love is readily misconstructed, when he is letting it out most convincingly, and it is liker an enemy, then a friend, so to do; for, there are here who indirectly carp at his love, and the expressions of it, since he sustered the man to die. 2. Corrupt men, and the corrupt dispositions of men, will not readily beleeve Christs love, unlesse it appear in some evidences and effects desired by them; for, this is their indirect exception, that he caused not that this man should not have died. Misconstructers of Christs love are ordinarily limiters of his love, to be evidenced in such and such particulars. 3. Men may have much knowledge, and yet much malice against Christ; Yea, knowledge is very dangerous, if it be not sanctified and seasoned with grace and love; for, these men can tell that he opened the eyes of the blinde, ch. 9.6. and, it seems, are better acquaint with his proceedings then the others, and yet they carp at his love. 4. Christ hath given such proofes of his power, as may convince malice it selfe, that he can do greatest things for his people, if it be for their good; for, their reasoning grants, that he which opened the eyes of the blind, could have caused that this man should not have died. 5. When malice and prejudice hath said its worst against Christs dealing, it will be found, in end, that he is doing better then we could desire; for, all they could have expected, was, that he should have caused that this man should not have died, which might have been done, and yet little of Christ or his love have been seen in it; For, it might have been looked on only as a recovery out of a dangerous disease. Whereas he is about to do that for Lazarus, which sets forth his own glory, and makes his love to him conspicuous indeed.
