Augustine: Tractates on the Gospel of John 49
We have, however, read in the Gospel of three dead persons who were raised to life by the Lord, and, let us hope, to some good purpose. For surely the Lord’s deeds are not merely deeds, but signs. And if they are signs, besides their wonderful character, they have some real significance: and to find out this in regard to such deeds is a somewhat harder task than to read or hear of them.
But he who has become habituated to sin, is buried, and has it properly said of him, he stinks;
for his character, like some horrible smell, begins to be of the worst repute. Such are all who are habituated to crime, abandoned in morals.
But what was the message sent by his sisters? Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.
They did not say, Come; for the intimation was all that was needed for one who loved. They did not venture to say, Come and heal him: they ventured not to say, Command there, and it shall be done here. And why not so with them, if on these very grounds the centurion’s faith was commended? For he said, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Matthew viii No such words said these women, but only, Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.
It is enough that You know; for You are not one that loves and forsakes.
* The sisters inevitably knew it would have been dangerous for Jesus to return to Judea because the Jews wished to arrest him. They also knew his history of healing the ill remotely. Perhaps they initially thought Jesus could do the same for Lazarus.
Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
All of the Jews who had come to Mary did not believe, but many of them did. But some of them,
whether of the Jews who had come, or of those who had believed, went away to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done:
whether in the way of conveying intelligence, in order that they also might believe, or rather in the spirit of treachery, to arouse their anger. But whoever were the parties, and whatever their motive, intelligence of these events was carried to the Pharisees.