From His prayer in John 11, we can assume that Jesus already had a discussion with His Father concerning Lazarus, and received His answer the first time he received the news he was ill (John 11:4). Which would make sense of His obvious frustration when those closest to Him didn’t take Him at His Word, and were angry and hurt when He didn’t personally show up in their time frame (John 11:37-38). Jesus said He was calling Lazarus forth on the account of those standing around Him – so they would finally recognise that He was from God, in communion with God, and only spoke what He heard God say. When Jesus said Lazarus would be just fine the first time He heard of his illness, He wasn’t being polite and kind, He was literally saying what His Father told Him would happen. Surely by now His friends would have recognised this about Him, and not given up faith, even when their brother had died. They had seen Jesus raise the dead before, and they had His Word that Lazarus would be well again. When God gives us a Word, no matter how contrary to that word the circumstances seem to be – we cannot lose hope and stop believing. God will always honour His Word concerning us.