them that weep, and rejoice with them that rejoice. Well would it be for the Church and the world if there were more Christians of this stamp and character ! The Church would be far more beautiful, and the world be far more happy.
Notes. John XI. 30—37.
30. — [Nbio Jesus ivas not yet come, etc.'} The Greek word for " come " is in the preterperfect tense. The sentence, translated literally, would be, " Jesus had not yet come into the town," when Martha left Him to tell Mary, but was still waiting or re- maining in the place outside Bethany, where Martha at first met Him. The word " town " would be more correctly rendered " village," according to our present acceptation of the word. Yet it is fair to remember that words change their meaning with lapse of time. Even at this day a little Suffolk village of 1,400 people, is called a " town" by many of its inhabitants.
Calvin thinks that Jesus remained outside Bethany by Mar- tha's request, that His life might not be endangered.
81. — {The Jews then... comforted her... saw Mary... followed her. ,] It is probable that the persons here mentioned formed a consider- able number, — as many as could crowd into the house. " Com- forted" in the Greek is the present participle, and implies that they were actually employed in comforting Mary. Concerning the manner of comforting on such occasions, we know nothing certain. People who only talk common places are miserable comforters, and far worse than Job's friends, who sat for seven days saying nothing at all. It may be that among the Jews the mere presence of courteous and sympathizing people was thought a kind attention, and soothed the feelings of the be- reaved. The customs of nations differ widely in such matters.
It is evident these Jews did not hear Martha's message, and knew nothing of Jesus being near. Some of them, perhaps, had they known it, would not have followed Mary; not know- ing, they all followed without exception, aud unexpectedly became eye-witnesses of a stupendous miracle. All they knew was that Mary went out hastily. They followed in a spirit of kind sympathy, and by so doing reaped a great blessing.
Bupertus shrewdly remarks that the Jews did not follow Martha, when she ran to meet Jesus, but did follow Mary. He conjectures that Mary's affliction was deeper and more over- whelming than Martha's, and her friends devoted themselves more to comfort her, as needing most consolation. Yet the simpler reason seems to be that when both sisters had left the house, the friends could hardly do anything else but go out and follow.