John 11:44 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And he that was dead came forth,— It would have been the least part of the miracle, had Jesus made the rollers, with which Lazarus was bound, to unloose themselves from around his body, before he came forth: but he brought him out just as he was lying, and ordered the spectators to loose him, that they might be the better convinced of the miracle. Accordingly, in taking off the grave-clothes, they had the fullest evidence, both of his death and resurrection; for on the one hand the manner in which it is supposed he was swathed, (see ch. John 19:40.) must of itself have killed him in a little time, had he been alive when buried, and consequently have demonstrated beyond all exception, that Lazarus was several days dead, before Jesus called him forth. Some, however, suppose, that the body was not bound over with bandages, but only wrapped up in a large linen cloth, tied at the hands and feet, [Κειριαις, a word which Phavorinus explains by επιταφιοι δεσμοι, sepulchral bands,] not altogether, perhaps, unlike what is customarywith us; and this is the more probable, as we may reasonably conclude, both from the words of Martha, John 11:39 and from this verse, that Lazarus was not embalmed, when it was usual to make use of such bandages. However, be this as it may, in taking off the grave-clothes, the linen might offer both to their eyes and smell abundant proofs of his putrefaction, and by that means convince them, that he had not been in a deliquium, or swoon, but was really departed. On the other hand, by his lively countenance appearing when the napkin was removed, his fresh colour, his active vigour, and his brisk walking, they who camenear him and handled him, were made sensible that he was in perfect health, and had an opportunity to try the truth of the miracle by the closest examination. It may be proper just to reply here to a difficulty suggested upon this history of Lazarus's resurrection. It is said that, when Jesus called upon Lazarus to come forth, he came out bound hand and foot; but deists, talking of this miracle, commonly ask with a sneer, how could he come out of a grave, who was bound in that manner? The answer however, is obvious. The reader is first desired to consider the form of the Jewish sepulchres, as described in the note on Luke 24:4 and then to reflect that the evangelist means not that Lazarus walked out of the sepulchre; but that, lying on his back, he raised himself into a sitting posture, then, putting his legs out of his niche or cell, slid down and stood upright on the floor; all which he might easily do, notwithstanding his arms were bound close to his body, and his legs were tied strait together by means of the shroud and rollers, or bandages, or whatever they were with which he was confined. Accordingly, when he was come forth, it is said, that Jesus ordered them to loose him, and let him go; a circumstance plainly importing, that the historian knew that Lazarus could not walk till he was unbound. If the Jews buried as the Egyptians did, the napkin did not cover the face of Lazarus, but only went round his forehead, and under his chin; so that he could easily see; but even on supposition that it was wound about his face, he could easily have raised himself out of his niche without seeing, in the manner above described.