What is the meaning of John 11:15? For your sake – “And for your sake” (John 11:15) shows Jesus’ focus on His disciples’ spiritual good, not merely Lazarus’s immediate relief. – He shapes every circumstance with His followers in mind, as seen when He tells Peter later, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but later you will understand” (John 13:7). – The lesson: even painful delays serve a redemptive purpose for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). I am glad – “I am glad” may sound surprising in the face of a friend’s death, yet Jesus rejoices because a greater revelation of His glory is about to unfold, similar to His joy when the Father’s will is advancing (Luke 10:21). – His gladness is anchored in the certain outcome of resurrection power that will strengthen faith, not in the sorrow itself (Hebrews 12:2). I was not there – By saying He was glad He “was not there,” Jesus highlights a deliberate choice to delay (John 11:6). – He had healed from a distance before (John 4:50–53), so His absence was intentional, designed to allow Lazarus’s death and thus demonstrate a mightier sign. – This underscores that divine timing often differs from human urgency, echoing Ecclesiastes 3:11. So that you may believe – The ultimate goal is faith: “so that you may believe.” Every miracle in John’s Gospel is a sign pointing to belief (John 20:31). – Raising Lazarus will confirm that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) and foreshadow His own resurrection. – Faith always deepens through seeing Christ triumph over impossibility (Mark 9:24; John 11:40). But let us go to him – Jesus moves from explanation to action: “But let us go to him.” He invites the disciples to witness His power firsthand, just as He later says, “Rise, let us go from here” (John 14:31). – Following Him often means stepping toward places of grief and uncertainty, trusting that His presence changes everything (Psalm 23:4). – The phrase signals both compassion for Lazarus’s family and confidence in the miracle about to occur (John 11:43-44). summary Jesus intentionally delayed arriving in Bethany so the disciples could witness a greater miracle, strengthening their faith. His gladness rests in the coming display of resurrection power. By inviting the disciples to go with Him, He calls them—and us—to trust His timing, walk into hard places with Him, and believe more deeply when His glory is revealed. |
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