John 11:17-27 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.… Leaving His retreat beyond Jordan, Jesus calmly makes His way to the village of Bethany. We shall find it shown in the issue that, as regards the manifestation of the glory of God, the leading of the disciples into higher faith, and the discipline and blessing of the sisters, the Lord's arrival is neither too early nor too late; but that it is as when separate trains move along separate lines of railway, "timed" to meet by a certain hour, at a certain junction, there to be combined. The distance to Bethany was a long day's journey. Whether He made the journey in a single day we have no means of knowing. The earliest part of it would lie along some fertile glen of Gilead, and would be pursued amid "morning songs" from every side. Crossing the Jordan at a neighbouring ford, the next part of the journey would lie in the rich plain of Jericho, beautiful as a great pleasure ground, with bosks and groves of aromatic shrubs. Then He would pursue the wild dreary road that goes up from Jericho to Jerusalem, lying through a desolate rocky district, often winding along the edge of cliffs and frightful precipices, one of the wildest and gloomiest roads in the land. As He approaches Bethany, the dust of travel whitening His sandals, and as weary, it may be, as when He came to Jacob's well at noon, He is told that Lazarus has already been four days in the grave. (J. Culross.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.WEB: So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. |
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