Lazarus exclaimed, "Oh! my friend, my benefactor!"
"Alas!" cried Martha, "thou art going; and comest thou back nevermore?"
Jesus said, "The Father wills it, beloved. Wherever I am I bear you ever with me in my heart, and wherever you are, my blessings will follow you. Farewell."
And behold as they turned to go, there met them Mary, the mother of Jesus, with her companions. Mary had a white mantle round her head, from beneath which her long dark hair hung down. She hastened to her son, crying, "Jesus, dearest son, I hastened after thee with my friends, in eager longing to see thee once more before thou goest, all whither?"
Jesus clasped her hands gently and replied, "Mother, I am on the way to Jerusalem."
"To Jerusalem," said his mother. "There is the temple of Jehovah, whither I once carried thee in my arms to offer thee to the Lord."
"Mother," said Jesus in solemn sadness, "the hour is come when according to the will of the Father I shall offer myself. I am ready to complete the sacrifice which the Father demands from me."
"Ah," cried Mary with bitter and piteous cry, "I foresee what kind of a sacrifice that will be."
John and Mary Magdalene had joined the mother of Jesus, and the two Marys standing together united their lament.
"How much we had wished," said the Magdalene, "to keep back the master and make him remain with us."