The next day the burial took place, and yet no messenger came from Jesus. The morning of the third day the man returned, and said that he had found the Prophet on the farther bank of Jordan, where John had baptized, abiding in a humble cottage in the suburbs of Bethabara with his disciples.
The bearer of the sad tidings from the two sisters delivered his simple and touching message:
"Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick!"
"And what said he—how did his countenance appear?" asked Martha of the man.
"He betrayed no surprise, but said calmly to me, 'Son, I know it! This sickness shall not be unto death. It shall be for the glory of God; for hereby will my Father permit me to be glorified, that men may see and believe truly that I came out from God.'"
"Alas! He knew not how ill his friend was," said Mary, "or he would not have said it was not unto death, and would surely have hastened with you."
"He has forgotten us," answered Martha. "He should be here to console us in our deep affliction, though he came not to heal our brother."
"Nay, sister, do not think hardly of the blessed friend of Lazarus," said Mary, with soothing tones, as she caressed her elder sister. "I feel that if he had seen fit he could have raised up our brother, even speaking the word from Bethabara. It was not needful he should see him to heal him, for dost thou remember how he healed Lucius, the centurion's son? Yet at the time he was a day's journey distant from him."
"Then why, oh, why, did he not save Lazarus?" exclaimed Martha bitterly.
"In that he did not, sweet sister," answered Mary gently, "it was for the best. Did he not say to the messenger his sickness should be to the glory of his power?"