Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ two sisters had let Jesus know that their brother, Jesus friend, was ill. It was days later that Jesus set off to visit: “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died” – hardly words of welcome from Mary and Martha to Jesus, but understandable in the height of grief. Jesus was moved and understood their grief – as Jesus cared for the ten lepers, the man with the shrivelled hand, the blind man and indeed Lazarus, he cares for us too: although as with Lazarus, it may not be at a time we expect.
