4. *And Jesus hearing it, said to them* (“to them” (_eis_) is not genuine): *This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God: that the Son of God may be glorified by it.* The words of Christ were obscure until the miracle threw light upon them. They mean that the sickness of Lazarus was not to end in _ordinary_ death, for ordinary death is the end of mortal life, whereas Lazarus was to live again a mortal life. The sickness and death of Lazarus were intended to show forth the Divine power of Jesus in the miracle to be wrought. 5. Diligebat autem Iesus 5. Now Jesus loved Martha and Martham, et sororem eius her sister Mary, and Lazarus. Mariam, et Lazarum. 5. Some connect this verse with what has gone before, as giving the reason why the sisters of Lazarus informed Jesus of the illness of His friend. But it is better to connect with what follows in this way. Jesus loved Lazarus, and therefore when He had remained in the same place two days, then He said: Let us go into Judea again, as if He were unable to remain any longer away from His friend. Thus it is not merely His return to Judea, but His return after two days, that proves His friendship. Had He returned sooner, the miracle of the raising of Lazarus would have been less striking, and would not have afforded to Martha and Mary such a powerful motive of faith. See below on verse 15. The passing notice here of a friendship that must have been the result of long and intimate intercourse shows us how incomplete are the Gospel records. It is very interesting to notice how in this verse St. John refers to the love of Jesus for Lazarus and his sisters by a different word from that used by the sisters in verse 3. Instead of φιλεῖς, which expresses the affection of personal attachment, St. John, now that there is question of the love of Jesus not only for Lazarus but also for his sisters, uses Ἠγάπα, which expresses rather esteem than love, rather a reasoning appreciation than a heartfelt attachment. See below on xxi. 15‐17, where the contrast between the two words is most marked. 6. Ut ergo audivit quia, 6. When he had heard therefore infirmabatur, tunc quidem that he was sick, he still mansit in eodem loco duobus remained in the same place two diebus. days. 7. Deinde post haec dixit 7. Then after that he said to discipulis suis: Eamus in his disciples: Let us go into Iudaeam iterum. Judea again. 8. Dicunt ei discipuli: Rabbi, 8. The disciples say to him: nunc quaerebant te Iudaei Rabbi, the Jews but now sought lapidare, et iterum vadis to stone thee: and goest thou illuc? thither again? 8. The disciples, fearing for His safety and for their own (see verse 16, where Thomas takes it for granted that return to Judea meant death to Him and them), try to dissuade Him from returning.