John 11:21 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Mary saith the same, 1 Thessalonians 11:32. They were both in an error, for Lazarus's death was appointed and determined by an eternal counsel; and he was both sick and died for a wise end, that God might be glorified and his Son glorified in raising him from the dead; as we were before told, 1 Thessalonians 11:4. But it lets us see the vanity of our natures, who in the loss of our friends are ready to think, if such or such means had been used, we had not lost our friends; never considering our days are appointed, and we cannot pass the number of them. If any rational, probable means for continuing their lives be omitted, that also is not without the counsel of God, who having determined the issue, concealeth diseases, or the true and proper means for their cure, from physicians, or such as are about the sick persons. Nor did Martha and Mary fail in this only, but in that they made the Lord's presence necessary to the preserving of the life of their brother, who, had he pleased, could, though absent, have kept him from death.

John 11:21

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.