A common misinterpretation twists Jesus' words to imply that faithful believers never die from sickness or that all illnesses are harmless if they glorify God, ignoring the reality of mortality in a fallen world and the specific context of Lazarus' temporary death as a setup for a unique miracle; others erroneously view Jesus as callous, prioritizing his glory over immediate relief from suffering, whereas the passage highlights purposeful divine timing that combines compassion with revelation.
John 11:4
King James Version (1769)
4 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' sickness by affirming that it is not ultimately for death but serves a higher purpose: to reveal God's glory through the glorification of the Son of God, foreshadowing the resurrection miracle that powerfully demonstrates his divine authority over life and death while pointing to his own impending glorification through the cross and resurrection.