John 11:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus they speak of Christ as of some virtuous man pleasing to God. Because of her request, the Savior also offers prayer. God had no need of prayer in order to raise the dead.

Then she reveals still greater weakness of faith. For she says, "Whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Do you see? She regards Him as some virtuous man pleasing to God. She did not say, "Whatever You wish, You will do." Rather, she said, "Whatever You ask, He will give You."

Martha's words have this meaning: my brother died, she says, not because human nature is subject to death, but because You were not present, You who can conquer death by Your command.

Turned aside from the truth by grief, she thought that the Lord could now do nothing, since the time had passed. She supposed that He had come not to raise Lazarus, but to comfort them.

She also indirectly reproaches Him for His delay, and for not coming at once when He could have helped. This was when they sent Him the message: "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick" (Jn 11:3).

Martha's words, "Whatever You ask of God, God will give You," show that she is constrained from openly asking for what she desires.

She does not say to Him: "I ask You, bring my brother back to life." How could she know whether it was good for him to return to life?

She says only: "I know that You can do this if You will. But whether You will do it depends on Your judgment, not on my desire."

She did not say: "I ask You only this, that You raise my brother." For how could she know whether the resurrection of her brother would be for good?

She said only: "I know that You can. You act when You will, for You act according to Your judgment, not according to my expectation.

"But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."

If You had been here, my brother would not have died, because You would have asked God that he not die, and God would have heard You, since He loves You. Martha did not yet know that, although Jesus Christ was absent as man, He was present as God.

This woman does not believe, yet she tries to believe, while her unbelief hinders her faith.

"Whatever You ask of God." But God Himself gives. He does not ask from Himself.

Why then, woman, do you delay in asking, when the Giver stands before you? Woman, the Judge Himself is the One whom you try to call as advocate.

His is the authority to give, not the necessity of asking.

"I know," she says, "that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." Ah, woman, to believe this is not to believe. To know this is not to know.

Thus the Apostle showed that when a man thinks he knows something, he does not know it. See 1 Cor 8:2.

Do you see her faith? Do you see her undoubting spirit? In two thoughts she presents Him both as God and as the giver of life, though in her simplicity she errs somewhat. See also verse 21.

In Bethany Martha met them, always occupied with household cares. As soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, she went out of the house to Him, even out of the village.

From this it was clear that her faith and love for Jesus had not disappeared. This remained true even after Jesus' word concerning Lazarus' illness had apparently not been fulfilled.

Meanwhile Mary, plunged into her sorrow and noticing nothing that was happening around her, remained at home.

As soon as Martha saw Jesus, the sight of Him stirred two thoughts in her soul. One was the loss of her brother. The other was the power of Jesus to preserve his life, which He nevertheless had not wished to show.

"If You had been here, my brother would not have died," she said with grief.

When Jesus Christ came to Bethany, Lazarus had already been four days in the tomb. At that time the customary seven-day mourning for the dead was still continuing among the Hebrews.

In the house of Martha and Mary there were many acquaintances and relatives. Among them were many who had come from Jerusalem, since Bethany was not far from Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.

When Martha heard that Jesus Christ was approaching their village, she went out to meet Him. Mary continued to remain at home, among the relatives and acquaintances who shared her grief over her dead brother.

Meeting the Lord, Martha expressed her sorrow before Him that He had not been there earlier. "For," she said, "then my brother would not have died."

Martha, the sister of the dead man, came out to meet Him. With sorrow she said that if Jesus had not delayed His coming, and if He had found her brother alive, he would not have died. Yet she did not lose hope for something better, something of which she could only dream, but which she dared not state plainly. She said, "But even now, though my brother is dead, I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."

Yet at once faith and hope prevailed in her over every other feeling, and she added, "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."

"If You had been here," and so on. These words do not express a reproach against the Lord for not hastening to help His sick friend.

Rather, they express regret that it had to happen in this way. They are full of faith in the Lord as a great wonderworker.

If He had been there, He would have healed her brother miraculously, and he would not have died.

This faith in the Lord gives her the confidence, expressed by "I know," that the Lord is able even now to perform a miracle. If circumstances did not allow Him to do it earlier, He can do it now.

In this confidence were hidden both hope and the desire to see a miracle.

Why was Martha outside the house, able to hear before Mary the news of the Lord's arrival and hasten to meet Him?

By comparing this passage with Lk 10:38, 40, one may think that Martha was the elder sister and mistress of the house. Or at least she managed the whole household.

This explains how Martha, busy with household matters in the courtyard, could hear of the Lord's approach.

In the East it is obligatory to provide a meal for all who come to honor the memory of the deceased. Sometimes this ruinous custom extends for forty days.

Mary, meanwhile, was surrounded by guests and seated inside the house in the reception room. In the East this is now called the mandara, or divan. She did not yet know of His approach.