As Elizabeth said, "...sometimes, when reading the Gospel of John, ...well, sometimes I just get downright silly."
Jesus does not arrive in Bethany until four days after Lazarus died. The note in my Harper Collins Study Bible says
Jewish belief also held that the soul lingered near the body for three days, so that death was truly final on the fourth day. (p. 2035)And Burridge notes
This [Lazarus' being in the tomb four days] may be another allusion to the rabbinic idea that the soul would wait for three days until it saw from the change in colour of the face that decomposition had started, and then depart. (p. 144)Obviously, Jesus wants to make sure that, when the sign is accomplished, no one can doubt that Lazarus has been raised from the DEAD.
Martha, on the other hand, echoes my thoughts of the other day. John also portrays Martha as not fully understanding what Jesus says to her, "Your brother will rise again." She thinks he is talking of the resurrection on the last day. Jesus will set her straight, so to speak, in the passage we read tomorrow.
Peace,
Jeffri
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