John 11:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And I am glad for your sakes, &c.— "I am glad for your sakes, that I was not in Judea before he died; for had I been there and recovered him, your faith in me as the Messiah must have wanted that great confirmation, which it will receive by your beholding me raising him again from the dead. Nevertheless,—(rather therefore, αλλα, see Acts 10:20; Acts 26:16.) to confirm your faith, and to manifest the great designs of my Father and myself, let us go unto him." Thus Jesus, who could have raised up Lazarus without opening his lips, or rising from his seat, leaves the place of his retirement beyond Jordan, and takes a journey into Judea, where the Jews lately attempted to kill him. The reason was, his being present in person, and raising Lazarus to life again before so many witnesses, at Bethany, where he died, and was well known, would be a means, under divine grace, of bringing the men of that and future ages to believe in his doctrine, which is so well fitted to prepare them for a resurrection to life eternal,—an admirable proof and emblem of which, he gave them in this great miracle.