"Behold how he loved him!" whispered the Jews present with surprise.
Others said, "Could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?"
Jesus, heaving a deep sigh, now came nearer the grave. With a slight movement of his right hand to those who stood by, he said in a tone that, though low, was heard by the whole people, so solemn was the surrounding stillness:
"Take ye away the stone!"
"Lord," said Martha, "by this time the body is offensive, for he hath been dead four days."
"Daughter," said Jesus, looking on her, "believe, and thou shalt behold the power of God."
The men then with some difficulty took away the stone from the door of the sepulchre and stood upon one side. The dark vault yawned with gloomy horrors, and, so corrupt was the air that rushed out, all fell back from it, save Jesus and Mary, retiring several steps from the entrance.
Jesus stood looking into the cave where, as our eyes became accustomed to the darkness within, we could discern the corpse of Lazarus, covered with the grave mantle, and his face bound with a napkin which was already discolored with the sepulchral damp of the grave.
Raising his hands towards heaven and lifting up his spiritual eyes, which were yet moist with tears, Jesus spoke in a voice of indescribable pathos and earnestness of appeal, and with a manner of the most awful reverence, as follows: