George Hutcheson
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cryed with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth.
44 And he that was dead, came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-cloathes: and his face was bound about with a napkin, Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
In these verses we have the second part of the Chapter, containing the miracle it selfe, which is shortly done. For Christ calling on the dead man, as if he were alive, to come forth, he cometh out in the same posture wherein he was laid in his grave. And Christ requires some to loose him, that so they might be further confirmed of the truth of the miracle. Whence learn, 1. The upshot and close of Christs dealing will richly compence all his delayes, and seeming harsh dealing; for, the issue of all this procedure, in the former part of the Chapter, is, that Lazarus is raised again. 2. Albeit Christ may, in his peoples trouble, take much time to exercise and prepare them for mercy, and to let out proofes of his compassion and sympathy; Yet when that is done, he can give an issue, and help them, in a moment; for, now when all these are over here, the miracle is presently dispatched. And when he had thus spoken, and tried disciples and friends, removed their unbelief; manifested his own affectionate heart, &c. he cried, &c. 3. Christs word of command, whereby the world was created, and is upheld, is sufficient to effectuate greatest things, if it were even to raise the dead; for, he did no more, in bringing about this miracle, but cried, &c. 4. His crying with a loud voice, in the audience of all, was not only an evidence of his omnipotency, and that, as he employed the Father, so also, he put forth his own power in this miracle; But further, it points out. 1. His affection and earnestnesse to have the thing done, and sheweth, That Christ is not a coldriffe friend, but takes a hearty lift in what concerns his people. 2. It points out his confidence in the matter, and therefore he publikely interpriseth it in the hearing of all. To teach, that whatever our unbeleeving hearts say, yet Christ is not afraid of his work, that it shall miscarry in his hand. Doctrine 5. Christ, in employing his omnipotency, doth not look on things as they are in themselves, or seem to be unto us; But he calleth these things that are not, as though they were, and in speaking to, and commanding the powerlesse and dead, he giveth them life and strength to obey; for, he cryed, Lazarus come forth. His omnipotency speaks to him, as to one living, and ready to come forth on a call, because at this very word, he put life in him to hear and obey. See Rom. 4.17. 6. Christ hath our life in his hand, to take it away, or restore it, at his pleasure; and when he calls even for the dead, they will obey him; for, and he that was dead came forth. 7. Whatever enjoyments men have within time, yet it is but little of these things they can take away with them; for, it is marked, that he came out bound with grave-cloathes, and his face bound about with a napkin. Not so much to point out a new miracle in the bosome of the other, that a dead man should not only come out, but come out so bound as might hinder one to walk; for, it may easily be conceived, that the bonds were so loose, as he might creep one way or other out, and he knew the place better then to go wrong, though his face was covered. But the scope, in part, is, to point out how little Lazarus had carried away with him, even grave-cloathes. See 1 Tim 6.7. 8. As Christ our Lord will work no needlesse miracles; So he will have all convinced of the reality of those he worketh: Therefore also will he bring him out in his grave-cloathes, and bids them, loose him, and let him go, that he may walk at freedome, That so they might see him bound as they had laid him in, and themselves in handling and loosing him, might be further confirmed that it was a true miracle. As also (as was marked on, ver. 39) he would not loose him by a miracle, since mens hands could do that.
