Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
As they pursued their journey He came to a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed Him to her house.
Martha meanwhile was busy and distracted in waiting at table, and she came and said, »Master, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do all the waiting? Tell her to assist me.«
»Martha, Martha,« replied Jesus, »you are anxious and worried about a multitude of things;
Now a certain man, named Lazarus, of Bethany, was lying ill– Bethany being the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
So the sisters sent to Him to say, »Master, he whom you hold dear is ill.«
»See how dear he held him,« said the Jews.
When, however, He heard that Lazarus was ill, He still remained two days in that same place.
»Rabbi,« exclaimed the disciples, »the Jews have just been trying to stone you, and do you think of going back there again?«
for the Father Himself holds you dear, because you have held me dear and have believed that I came from the Father's presence.
And I have made known Thy name to them and will make it known, that the love with which Thou hast loved me may be in them, and that I may be in them.«
