In Jesus’ last, greatest sign, he brings his public attestation to a close. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus has demonstrated repeatedly through his words and his works that he is indeed the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in his name (John 20:31). In the sign of raising Lazarus up from the dead, Jesus now decisively proves that he is the one in whom is life (John 1:4).

This sign of raising the dead to life, however, demonstrates that Jesus possesses authority over life and death, even in his authority to take up his own life again after he lays it down for his sheep (cf. John 10:17–18). In John 11, we encounter the glory of Jesus in his capacity as the Lord of Life: for his glory and our good, Jesus shepherds us out of death into his resurrection life.