That is a revealing word, and full of strength. The supposition which it makes is that if Jesus had been at Bethany, Lazarus would not have died, for he would have healed him. Because he was not there, he had died, and the Lord said that, for the sake of his disciples, he was glad.
The sequel gives the explanation of his gladness. Death was no stronger in his presence than disease, but these men did not realize this. They would think of death as the unconquerable. It was so to them. With disease men may grapple, and fight, and often overcome. But in the presence of death they are helpless. It is beyond their control. Not so with him, and he was glad that they should have yet another opportunity to see his power.
We say “another”, for twice already they had seem him raise the dead, once in the house of Jairus, and once at the city of Nain. How slow we are to believe! And that makes his gladness all the more beautiful, as it reveals his patience. And so we may learn that he often permits us to pass into profounder darkness, and deeper mysteries of pain, in order that we may prove more perfectly his power.
Let the thought abide with us, if our pathway lies in some dark valley where for the moment no light is shining, and no path is known. He knows, and all he permits will only serve to reveal him more perfectly, and so give us a yet stronger confidence.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One