John 11:4

John 11:4

ESV: But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

KJV: When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

NIV: When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."

NKJV: When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

NLT: But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus's sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this."

Meaning

John 11:4 reveals Jesus' divine insight into Lazarus' illness, asserting that its ultimate purpose transcends mere physical death. Instead, this sickness is ordained to manifest God's divine glory, specifically through the glorification of Jesus, who is God's Son. It establishes that even human suffering can serve a higher redemptive and revelatory purpose, showcasing the power and identity of God and His Son.

Cross References

Context

John 11 marks a critical turning point in Jesus' public ministry, setting the stage for his own Passion. It is one of John's longest narrative chapters, centered on the dramatic resurrection of Lazarus from Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus and close friends of Jesus, send word of their brother's illness. Rather than rushing immediately to their aid, Jesus deliberately delays for two days (John 11:6). This delay is pivotal for the fulfillment of the purpose declared in verse 4.

Historically and culturally, sickness in ancient Israel was often associated with sin or divine judgment (though Jesus explicitly corrects this assumption in John 9:3). When Jesus states "this sickness will not end in death," He is not dismissing the physical reality of Lazarus' impending demise. Instead, He is pointing to a higher spiritual and revelatory outcome beyond that physical end. His statement functions as a divine reinterpretation of human tragedy, presenting it as a canvas for God's mighty acts. The Jewish audience would expect immediate intervention from a prophet of God; Jesus' intentional delay and subsequent assertion prepare them for a profound demonstration of God's power and a deeper understanding of His own identity. This event directly confronts any notion that sickness is solely punitive or that God's power is limited to immediate physical healing without greater purpose.

Word analysis

• When Jesus heard that: (Greek: Akousas de ho Iēsous) Jesus is fully aware of the situation and the message delivered by the sisters. His knowledge isn't limited to human reports but includes divine foresight of the event's trajectory.
• he said: (eipe) This indicates a direct, authoritative declaration from Jesus. It’s not a wish or a hope, but a statement of divine truth and purpose.
• “This sickness”: (Hē astheneia autē) The term astheneia (ἀσθένεια) primarily means "weakness, feebleness, infirmity, sickness." It highlights human vulnerability and the frailty of life in the face of disease. The demonstrative "this" makes it specific to Lazarus's ailment.
• “will not end in death”: (ouk estin pros thanaton) Lit. "is not unto death" or "is not leading to death." This phrase, coming from Jesus, is deeply paradoxical because Lazarus does physically die. The Greek pros thanaton can imply "for the purpose of death" or "resulting in final death." Jesus' statement here must be understood not as a denial of physical demise, but a denial of death as the ultimate or sole outcome, particularly from God's redemptive perspective. It means it will not result in a permanent or unconquerable death.
• “no, it is for God’s glory”: (all’ huper tēs doxēs tou Theou) The Greek all’ is a strong adversative conjunction, "but on the contrary." Huper means "for the sake of, for the benefit of, for." Doxēs (δόξης) from doxa signifies "glory, honor, renown, splendor." In the biblical context, it refers to the visible manifestation of God's nature, presence, and power, often described as a radiant light. This phrase declares the sickness's ultimate, divine purpose: to make God's majestic presence and character known and acknowledged.
• “so that God’s Son”: (hina doxasthē ho Huios tou Theou) Hina introduces a purpose clause: "in order that, so that." Ho Huios tou Theou clearly identifies Jesus as the divine Son, emphasizing His unique relationship with the Father and His divine nature. This specific identification connects the upcoming event not just to God in general, but to the full revelation of God through His Son.
• “may be glorified through it”: (doxasthē di’ autēs) Doxasthē (δοξασθῇ) is the aorist passive subjunctive of doxazo, meaning "to glorify, to praise, to honor." It indicates that the glorification is an action that will happen to the Son, through the direct intervention of the Father and the Holy Spirit in the upcoming event. Di’ autēs means "through it," directly linking the sickness, and subsequent divine act related to it, as the instrument or means by which the Son will be glorified.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "This sickness will not end in death; no, it is for God’s glory": This powerfully contrasts human perspective (fear of death) with divine perspective (purpose of glory). It establishes God's sovereignty over suffering and redefines the narrative of illness from tragedy to a platform for divine revelation.
• "so that God’s Son may be glorified through it": This is a direct parallel construction indicating that the Father's glory is intimately tied to the Son's glorification. The Son is the very means by which the Father's glory is most perfectly manifested. Lazarus's resurrection would not just reveal God's power but concretely confirm Jesus' divine identity and authority, fulfilling His claim to be the Resurrection and the Life.

Commentary

John 11:4 serves as a profound interpretive key for the entire Lazarus narrative. It unveils Jesus’ intentionality behind His delayed arrival and Lazarus’s death, repositioning human suffering and death not as an ultimate defeat or a sign of divine abandonment, but as a deliberate stage for the most spectacular display of God's redemptive power and self-revelation. When Jesus states the sickness is "not unto death," He is not predicting that Lazarus will not die, but that his death will not be the final word. It will not have the typical sting of defeat, for it is ordained for a higher purpose: the glory of God.

Crucially, the glorification of God is achieved through the glorification of His Son, Jesus. This establishes the inseparable unity and shared purpose between the Father and the Son in John's Gospel. The forthcoming resurrection of Lazarus will not merely be an impressive miracle; it will be a decisive sign (sēmeion) demonstrating Jesus' divine power over life and death, reinforcing His messianic claims, and unveiling His true identity as God Incarnate. It serves as a precursor and foretaste of Jesus' own death and resurrection, through which He would be ultimately glorified. This divine agenda highlights that in the kingdom of God, even the deepest human anguish and seemingly insurmountable trials can become instruments for revealing God’s character and establishing His Son’s eternal dominion.

Bonus section

This verse subtly prefigures Jesus's own death and resurrection. Just as Lazarus's physical death served a purpose greater than itself (God's glory and the Son's glorification), so too would Jesus's death ultimately lead to His supreme glorification, ushering in the redemption of humanity. Furthermore, the statement "will not end in death" is deeply ironic, yet profoundly true. Lazarus did die, emphasizing that Jesus' statement isn't a mere predictive outcome but a divine decree about the ultimate spiritual and theological outcome rather than the immediate biological one. This underscores Jesus' unique relationship with reality, speaking not just from a temporal human perspective but from an eternal, sovereign divine one where He holds authority even over death.

Explore john 11 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines