Tradition
St. John Chrysostom
Homilies on the Gospel of John
Homily 62 › John 11:3
“Behold, he whom you love is sick.”
They desired to draw on Christ to pity, for they still gave heed to Him as to a man. This is plain from what they say, “If you had been here, he had not died,” and from their saying, not, “Behold, Lazarus is sick,” but “Behold, he whom you love is sick.” What then said Christ?
Source: Homilies on the Gospel of John (New Advent)