Albert Barnes Commentary John 11:50

"nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." — John 11:50 (ASV)

It is expedient for us. It is better for us. Literally, "It is profitable for us."

That one man should die. They regarded Jesus as promoting sedition and, if he was successful, as exposing the nation to the vengeance of the Romans (John 11:48). If he was put to death, they supposed the people would be safe. This is all, doubtless, that he meant by that one man’s dying for the people.

He did not himself intend to speak of that death as an atonement or a sacrifice; but his words might also express that, and, though he was unconscious of it, he was expressing a real truth. In the sense in which he intended it, there was no truth in the observation, nor occasion for it; but in the sense which the words might convey, there was real and most important truth. It was expedient, it was infinitely desirable, that Jesus should die for that people, and for all others, to save them from perishing.