Беседа 62

John 11:1–2. A certain Lazarus was sick from Bethany, from the village where Mary and Martha, her sister, lived. Mary... was the one who anointed the Lord with myrrh... 1. The difficulty of the question of Mary, sister of Lazarus. – Jesus Christ once again declares His equality with God the Father. – 2. The meaning of the saying of the apostle. Thomas. – Jesus Christ goes to Bethany to raise Lazarus. – 3. I am the resurrection and the life. – Why did Jesus Christ delay the resurrection of Lazarus until he began to stink? – 4 and 5. It is against the custom of women to mourn the dead excessively. - A temptation for the pagans. – Grief for the dead should be moderate. – Alms and prayers for the dead. – It is permissible to mourn the dead, but not excessively. 1. Many are tempted when they see some people pleasing to God in some kind of disaster, when they see, for example, that they have been exposed to illness, or poverty, or something else like that; but they do not know that such suffering is characteristic of those who are especially dear to God. So Lazarus was one of the friends of Christ, but he was sick, as those who sent them said: “Behold, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3). But let's look at this part (of the Gospel reading) first. “A certain Lazarus from Bethany was sick,” it is said. It was not simply and not by chance that he said where Lazarus was from, but for some reason, which he would indicate later. But for now we will occupy the proposed place. He also usefully mentions to us about his sisters, adding to what was special about Mary, namely: “Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with myrrh.” Some here ask with bewilderment: how did Christ allow a woman to do this? Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to note that this is not the harlot mentioned in Matthew, and not the one (mentioned) in Luke; no, this is another one. They were indeed harlots and filled with many vices; and this one was honest and diligent, caring about the acceptance of Christ. The Evangelist points out that the sisters also loved Christ, and yet He allowed Lazarus to die. But why didn’t they leave their sick brother and go to Christ themselves, as the centurion and the husband of the kings did, but sent to Him? Because they had great hope in Christ and were very close to Him. On the other hand, they were weak women and were overcome with grief. And that they did not do this out of negligence was shown later. So, it is obvious that Mary was not a harlot. But why, you say, did Christ accept the harlot? In order to resolve from vice, to show love for mankind, so that you know that there is no illness that overcomes His goodness. So, look not only at what He accepted, but also at how He changed her. Why does the evangelist mention this event to us? Or better, what does he want to teach with the words: “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5)? So that we are not at all indignant and not upset when virtuous people and friends of God happen to fall into some kind of illness. “Behold, the one you love is sick” (John 11:3). (The sisters of Lazarus) wanted to arouse compassion in Christ, because they still looked at Him as a person, which is evident from their words: “If You were here, you would not have died” (John 11:21), and also from the fact that they did not say: “Behold, Lazarus is sick,” but: “Behold, whom You love is sick.” What about Christ? “This sickness does not lead to death, but to the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). See how He again shows that His glory and the glory of the Father are one. Having said “to the glory of God,” he added: “may the Son of God be glorified.” "This disease does not lead to death". Since He intended to stay there for two days, He now sends them away with this news. At the same time, one should marvel at Lazarus’s sisters, how they, having heard that “not to death,” and yet seeing him dead, were not tempted by what actually happened the opposite. But even after that they came to Christ, and did not think that He had told a lie. And the particle “yes” here does not mean the cause, but the effect. The illness happened for a different reason; but Christ turned her to the glory of God. And having said this, “he stayed two days” (John 11:6). Why did he “stay”? In order for him to die and be buried, so that later no one could say that He resurrected him when he had not yet died, that it was only deep sleep, or relaxation, or deprivation of senses, but not death. For this reason, He remained for so long that even decay occurred, so that they said: “It already stinks” (John 11:39). “After this he said to the disciples, “Let us go... to Judea” (John 11:7). Why does He speak in advance here (where He wants to go), while in other places He never warned about this? (The disciples) were greatly afraid; and since they were now in such a state of mind, He precedes them with this news, so as not to alarm them by the suddenness. What about the students? “How long have the Jews sought to stone You, and You are going there again?” (John 11:8). Thus, they feared for Him, but even more for themselves, because they were not yet perfect. That is why Thomas, shaken by fear, says: “Let us go and we will die with him” (John 11:16), since he was weaker and less faithful than others. But look how Jesus encourages them by saying further: “Are there not twelve hours in the day” (John 11:9). By this He said either that he who is not aware of anything bad in himself will not suffer any misfortune, but he who does evil will suffer, therefore we should not be afraid, because we have not done anything worthy of death - or that he who sees “the light of this world” (John 11:9) is safe, and that if he who sees “the light of this world” is safe, then much more is he who is with Me, if he does not depart from Me. Having encouraged them with these words, He also gives the reason why they need to go there. And showing that they will not go to Jerusalem, but to Bethany, He says: “Our friend Lazarus fell asleep; but I am going to wake him up” (John 11:11), that is, I am going not to talk again about the same subjects and circulate among the Jews there, but to wake up our friend. “His disciples said: Lord! if he falls asleep, he will recover” (John 11:12). They did not just say this, but in order to prevent Him from going there. Are you saying, they object, that he is sleeping? So, there is no particular need to go there. Meanwhile, this is why He said: “our friend,” to show the need to go. 2. When they still did not decide, He says: “He died” (John 11:14). He used the first expression because He wanted to teach not to be vain; but since they did not understand, He adds: “I died, and I rejoice for you” (John 11:14–15). Why exactly “for you”? Because I predicted (his death) without being there; and, therefore, when I resurrect him, there will be no suspicion. Do you see how imperfect the disciples were and did not understand, as they should, His power? And this came from fear, which at that time worried and confused their souls. And when he said: “fell asleep,” then he added: “I’m going to wake him up”; and having said: “he died,” he no longer added: I am going to resurrect him. He did not want to predict in words what he had to confirm with deeds, teaching us everywhere not to be vain and not to make promises indiscriminately. And if He did this when the centurion begged Him, because He said: “I will come and heal him” (Matthew 8:7), then He said this in order to show his faith. If anyone says: why did the disciples come to the idea of ​​sleep and not understand that He was talking about death, even after He said: “I am going to wake him up” - since it was crazy to assume that He would go fifteen furlongs in order to wake him up - then we will answer that they considered it a riddle, of which He spoke many. So, they were all afraid of attack from the Jews; but more than all others - Thomas, who therefore said: “Let us go and die with him” (John 11:16). Some say he actually wanted to die; but this is unfair: his words more express fear. However, he was not reproached for this, because (Christ) now condescended to his weakness. Subsequently, he became stronger than everyone and was invincible. And this is what is surprising, that (the apostle), so weak before the cross, - after the cross and after he believed in the resurrection, we see more ardently than all the others. So great is the power of Christ. He who did not dare to go with Christ to Bethany, without seeing Christ, traveled almost the entire universe and turned among the peoples who were fierce and ready to kill him. But if Bethany stood fifteen furlongs, which is two miles, then how could Lazarus be “as in the grave for four days” (John 11:39)? (Christ) stayed in place for two days, and on the eve of these two days a messenger arrived with news - on the very day when he died - so that Christ arrived precisely on the fourth day. That is why He waited to be called, and did not enter on His own without an invitation, so that someone would not suspect this event. And it was not the sisters themselves who came, whom He loved; but outsiders were sent. “And Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs away” (John 11:18). From this it becomes clear that many from Jerusalem could have been present. And indeed, (the evangelist) immediately added that “many of the Jews came... to comfort them” (John 11:19). Why did they console these (women) loved by Christ? After all, they laid down: “Whoever recognizes Him as Christ must be put out of the synagogue” (John 9:22)? Either because of the special severity of this misfortune, or because of the respect for them as noble women, or they were people who were not among the evil ones, since many of them believed. And the evangelist speaks about this in order to assure that Lazarus died. Why, when Martha goes out to meet Christ, doesn’t she take her sister with her? She wants to see Him alone and tell Him what happened. When He aroused good hopes in her, she leaves and calls Mary, who came out to meet Christ, although her grief was still in full force. Do you see how hot the love was? This is the same one about which he said: “Mary chose the good part” (Luke 10:42). But how, you say, did Martha appear more zealous now? She was no more diligent; Mary (did not come out because) she had not yet heard (about His arrival). On the contrary, she was weaker, because even after hearing so much, she still said: “It already stinks; for he was in the grave four days” (John 11:39). And this (Mary), although she did not hear anything, did not say anything like that, but immediately believed and said: “Lord! If You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). 3. Do you see what wisdom women have, although their minds are weak? Having seen Christ, they do not immediately give in to tears, sobs and groans, which happens to us when one of our acquaintances comes to us during our grief; but they immediately show their surprise to the Teacher. So, they both believed in Christ, but not yet properly. They did not yet know well either that He was God, or that He did this by His own power and authority. Now He taught them both. And that they did not know this is evident both from their words: “If You had been here, our brother would not have died” (John 11:21), and from what they added: “Whatever you ask of God, God will give you” (John 11:22). Thus they speak (of Christ) as of some virtuous person and pleasing to God. Notice that Christ answers: “your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). This refutes for now the words: “what do you ask?” Didn't say: I will ask, but what? “Your brother will rise again.” If He had said: woman! Are you still staring down the drain? I don't need anyone else's help; I create everything by myself - this would be very difficult and unpleasant for a woman. But by saying: “He will rise,” He naturally made His word more moderate, and with further words He made it clear what I said above. So, when she said: “I know that he will rise on the resurrection, on the last day” (John 11:24), then He, more clearly showing His power, says: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), and this means that He does not need the assistance of another, since He Himself is life. And if He needed something else, how could He Himself be resurrection and life? But He did not say so clearly, but only hinted at it. Then, since she said: “what do you ask,” He also says: “he who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25), showing that He Himself is the giver of blessings, and one must ask for them from Him. “And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:26). See how He lifts her mind. After all, the point was not only to resurrect Lazarus, but it was necessary to teach both her and those present with her the resurrection. Therefore, before He resurrected, He talked about (resurrection). If He Himself is “resurrection and life,” then He is not limited to a place, but can heal everywhere. And if (Lazarus’s sisters), like the centurion, had said: “Speak the word, and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8), then He would have done so. But since they called Him and asked to come to them, He condescends to lift them up from their degraded concept of Him, and comes to the place. But even with this condescension, He shows that He can heal even without being present on the spot. It is for this purpose that He hesitates. Indeed, grace would not have become obvious if it had been immediately granted, if the stench had not already appeared first. But how did this woman know about the future resurrection? She heard many of Christ's conversations about the resurrection; and now I wanted to see it for real. Look, however, how it still spins down! In fact, having already heard: “I am the resurrection and the life,” she did not even say after that: resurrect him, but what? “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who comes into the world” (John 11:27). What does Christ mean to her? Everyone “who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25), meaning here this (bodily) death; “And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:26), indicating that (spiritual) death. And since “I am the resurrection,” do not be embarrassed; although he has already died, believe me, this is not death. Thus, for the time being, He consoled her about what had happened and awakened hope in her, both by saying: “he will rise again,” and by saying: “I am the resurrection,” and by the fact that if after the resurrection he dies again, he will not suffer any harm, and therefore should not be afraid of this death. His words have the meaning that neither he died nor you will die. “Do you believe this?” Martha answers: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who comes into the world” (John 11:26–27). It seems to me that the woman did not understand the words. She recognized that there was something great in them, but she did not understand everything. Therefore, being asked one thing, she answers another. But at least she now had the benefit of putting off her grief. Such is the power of Christ’s words! That is why Martha was the first to come out to meet Christ, and Mary followed her. Love for the Teacher did not allow them to strongly feel real (sorrow). Thus, with the help of grace, the minds of these women became wise. 4. And at the present time, along with other vices, the disease that dominates among women is that they show off crying and sobbing, baring their shoulders, tearing their hair, making scars on their cheeks. And they do this - some out of grief, others out of a desire to show off and distinguish themselves, while others bare their shoulders, and, moreover, in the eyes of men - out of debauchery. What are you doing, woman? How do you, tell me, being a member of Christ, expose yourself without any decency in the middle of the marketplace, and moreover, when there are men present in the marketplace? You tear your hair, tear your clothes, sob loudly, create a disgrace around yourself, appear in the form of frantic women - and don’t you think that you offend God? How great is your madness! Won't the pagans laugh at this? Will they think that everything we have is a fable? So, they will say: there is no resurrection, and the teaching of Christians is laughter, deception and fiction. Their women cry as if nothing had happened after real life; they do not heed the words written in their books, and by this they themselves show that everything is fiction. If they believed that the deceased did not die, but passed on to a better life, then they would not mourn him as if he no longer existed, they would not be tormented, and they would not utter these words filled with unbelief: I won’t see you again! You won't be with me again! They all have a fable. If they do not believe in the highest of goods, then much less everything else that they consider sacred. The pagans themselves are not so cowardly. Many of them were philosophical. So, one pagan woman, having heard that her son had died in the war, immediately asked: what is the state of affairs in the city? And one of the philosophers, awarded a wreath, when he heard that one of his sons had fallen for his fatherland, took off the wreath and asked: which of the two? And as soon as he found out which of them had fallen, he immediately laid a wreath on himself again. Many also gave up even their sons and daughters for sacrifice, out of respect for the demons. And the Lacedaemonian women even inspired their children to either bring their shield from the war, or they themselves would be brought dead on it. That is why I am ashamed that the pagans are so philosophical, and we act indecently. Those who know nothing about the resurrection act in the same way as those who know; but those who know act as those who do not know. Many even, out of human shame, often do what they do not do for God; So rich women don’t tear their hair or bare their shoulders. But this also deserves extreme condemnation - not because they do not expose themselves, but because they do it not out of piety, but in order not to seem shameless. So, shame curbs sadness, but the fear of God does not? How is this not worthy of extreme condemnation? It should at least be that what rich women do because of their wealth, poor women do out of fear of God; but now everything happens the other way around: those who are wise out of vanity, and those who act indecently out of cowardice. What is worse than such incongruity? Everything is done for the people, everything is done according to local motives. And speeches are made, full of madness and great laughter. The Lord says: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4), meaning those who cry for sins, and yet no one cries with this cry, and does not care about the perishing soul. On the contrary, we are not commanded to do this (cry for the dead), and yet we do it. Well, you say, is it possible for a person not to cry? Yes, I don’t forbid this; I only forbid you to be tormented, to cry immoderately. I am not a beast and I am not inhuman. I know that nature is revealed in this, and that it seeks community and daily communication. It's impossible not to be sad. Christ himself showed this because he shed tears over Lazarus. Do the same: cry, but quietly, but decently, but with the fear of God. If you cry like this, it will be a sign not that you do not believe in the resurrection, but that separation is difficult for you. 5. After all, we also cry for those who go on the road and are separated from us; but not like those who despair. So do you, cry. As if escorting someone going in a strange direction. I say this not to make it a law for you, but out of condescension. In fact, if the deceased was a sinner and offended God a lot, in this case he should cry, or better yet, not cry only, because there is no benefit for him from this, but also do what can bring him some relief, alms and offerings. However, even in this case one must rejoice, because the opportunity to sin has been taken away from him. If he is a righteous man, then he should rejoice even more, because he is safe and has already gotten rid of the uncertainty of the future. If this is a young man, (we should rejoice) that he is soon freed from the evils surrounding us. If it is an old man, then he departed, having enjoyed to satiety what was considered desirable. But you, forgetting to think about this, make the maids weep, as if you were doing honor to the departed. This is extreme dishonor! Honor for the deceased consists not of crying and sobbing, but of sacred songs and psalmody, and a good life. Such a person, having departed from here, will depart with the angels, even if there was no one with his remains. But a depraved person, even if the whole city saw him off, will not receive any fruit from it. Do you want to honor the deceased? Almost him in a different way - through alms, charity, liturgies. What is the use of crying a lot? And I also heard about another grave evil; They say that many even attract lovers to themselves through crying, and by the excessiveness of their cries they gain the glory of wives who love their husbands. What a diabolical invention! What a satanic invention! How long will we be earth and ashes? How long - blood and flesh? Let's look at the heavens and think about the spiritual! What opportunity will we have to reproach the pagans, what opportunity to console them, when we ourselves act in this way? How will we talk to them about the resurrection? What about any other wisdom? How can we live without fear? Don’t you know that death comes from sadness? Darkening the vision of the soul, sadness not only prevents it from seeing anything it should, but also causes great harm. Truly, when we indulge in excessive grief for the deceased, then we offend God and bring no benefit either to ourselves or to the deceased; and when we do the opposite, we please God and gain a good opinion from people. If we ourselves do not lose heart, then (God) will soon destroy the remnant of sorrow; and if we become very upset, He leaves us in the power of sorrow. If we give thanks, we will not grieve. But how is it possible, you say, for someone who has lost a son, or a daughter, or a wife not to grieve? I am not saying not to grieve, but not to grieve beyond measure. In fact, if we think that God took them, that our husband and son were mortals, we will soon receive consolation. To mourn here means to demand something supernatural. If you were born human and mortal, then why do you grieve over what happened in accordance with nature? You don’t grieve that you support your life with food, do you? You don't want to live without food, do you? Do the same in relation to death, and do not seek until the time of immortality, when you were born mortal. It is determined once and for all. Do not grieve and do not be distressed, but endure complacently what is generally prescribed for everyone. It is better to be sad about sins: this is good sadness, this is the greatest wisdom. So, let us grieve unceasingly over this, so that there we may be worthy of joy, according to the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: