194. The plot in killing Lazarus
The scribes and Pharisees took counsel with the high priest to slay Lazarus; for many renounced their traditions and believed in the word of Iesus, because the miracle of Lazarus was a great one, seeing that Lazarus had conversation with men, and ate and drank. But because he was powerful, having a following in Jerusalem, and possessing with his sister (Magdala and Bethany) they knew not what to do.
Iesus entered into Bethany, into the house of Lazarus, and Martha (with Mary) ministered unto him.
Mary, sitting one day at the feet of Iesus, was listening to his words, whereupon Martha said to Iesus:
'Lord, seest thou not that my sister taketh no care for thee, and provideth not that which thou must eat and thy disciples?'
Iesus answered:
'Martha, Martha, do thou take thought for that which thou shouldst do; for Mary hath chosen apart which shall not be taken away from her for ever.
Iesus, sitting at a table with a great multitude that believed in him, spake, saying:
'Brethren, I have but little time to remain with you, for the time is at hand that I must depart from the world. Wherefore I bring to your mind the words (of God) spoken to Ezekiel (the prophet) saying: "As I, your God, live eternally, the soul that sinneth, it shall die, but if the sinner shall penitent he shall not die but live."
'Wherefore the present death is not death, but rather the end of a long death: even as the body (when separated from the sense in a swoon) though it have the soul within it, hath no other advantage over the dead and buried save this, that the buried {body} awaiteth God to raise it again, but the unconscious waiteth for the sense to return.
'Behold, then, the present life that it is death, through having no perception of God.