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Commentaries
English
John
  
b) Jesus meets Martha and Mary
(John 11:17-33)
17Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.


Four days had passed since Lazarus had lain in the grave; he had been buried on the day he passed away, and the news reached Jesus that day. There was no point in Jesus arriving at once, since his friend was already buried. Death was confirmed without a doubt.
Bethany lay east of the Mount of Olives facing the Jordan which was 1.000 meters below. Beyond stood the Dead Sea. To the west at a distance of three kilometers lies Jerusalem on a hill beyond the Kidron valley.
Many friends of the deceased had come to his home, weeping and beating their breasts. Grief was specially evident, since Lazarus was the breadwinner of the family. The shadow of death overcast the gathering.