We learn the great practical lesson, from this verse, that there is nothing unworthy of a Christian in tears. There is nothing unmanly, dishonourable, unwise, or feeble, in being full of sympathy with the afflicted, and ready to weep with them that weep. Indeed, it is curious to gather up the many instan- ces we have in Scripture of great men weeping.
We may draw great comfort from the thought that the Saviour in whom we are bid to trust is one who can weep, and is as able to feel as He is able to save.
We may learn the reality of our Lord's humanity very strongly from this little verse. He was one who could hunger, thirst, sleep, eat, drink, speak, walk, groan, be wearied, wonder, feel indignant, rejoice, like any of ourselves, and yet without sin; and, above all, He could weep. I read that there is "joy in the presence of the angels of God," (Luke xv.,) but I never read of angels weeping. Tears are peculiar to flesh and blood.
Chrysostom remarks that " John, who enters into higher statements about our Lord's nature than any of the evangelists, also descends lower than any in describing his bodily affec- tions."
36. — [Then said. ..Jews. ..Behold. ..loved 7iim.~] This sentence is the expression partly of surprise, which comes out in the word " behold ; " and partly of admiration, — what a loving and tender- hearted Teacher this is ! It gives the idea that those who said this were the few unprejudiced Jews who had come to Bethany to comfort Mary and Martha, and afterward believed when they saw Lazarus raised.
Let us observe that of all graces, love is the one which most arrests the attention and influences the opinion of the world.
37. — [And some of them said, etc.~\ This sentence sounds to me like the language of enemies determined to believe nothing good of our Lord, and prepared to pick a hole or find a fault if possible, in anything that He did. Does not a sarcastic sneer ring throughout it? "Could not this Man, if He really did open the eyes of that blind person at Jerusalem last autumn, have prevented this friend of His from dying? If He really is the Messiah and the Christ, and really does work such wonder- ful works, why has He not prevented all this sorrow? If He really loved Lazarus and his sisters, why did He not prove His love by keeping him back from the grave? Is it not plain that He is not Almighty? He cannot do everything. He could open the eyes of a blind man, but He could not prevent death carry- ing off His friend. If He was able to prevent Lazarus dying, why did He not do it? If He was not able, it is clear there are some things He cannot do."
We should note that "the blind" is a word in the singular number. It is evidently the blind man at Jerusalem whose case is referred to.