King James Bible
"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."
Jesus responds to news of Lazarus's illness, demonstrating divine foreknowledge of the situation's ultimate outcome. His calm response contrasts with the urgency of Mary and Martha's message, indicating his sovereign control over the timing of events. Jesus declares the sickness will not end in permanent death, speaking prophetically about the temporary nature of Lazarus's condition. This paradoxical statement, given that Lazarus does die, reveals Jesus's perspective that physical death is not final when divine power intervenes. The illness serves a greater divine purpose—to manifest God's power and character through miraculous intervention. This redirects the focus from human tragedy to divine opportunity, a recurring theme in John's Gospel where suffering becomes a stage for revealing God's glory. Jesus explicitly links his own glorification to the Father's glory, asserting his divine identity and messianic role. The coming miracle will authenticate his claim to be the resurrection and the life, serving as the final and greatest sign before his own death and resurrection.