John Chapter 11, Verse 11
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11: ταυτα ειπεν και μετα τουτο λεγει αυτοις λαζαρος ο φιλος ημων κεκοιμηται αλλα πορευομαι ινα εξυπνισω αυτον
11: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our
friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of
sleep.
11: These things he said; and after that he said to them: Lazarus our
friend sleepeth: but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.
Lazarus sleepeth. Is dead. The word sleep is applied to death,
1st. Because of the resemblance between them, as sleep is the "kinsman of death." In this sense it is often used by pagan writers. But,
2nd. In the Scriptures it is used to intimate that death will not be final: that there will be an awaking out of this sleep, or a resurrection. It is a beautiful and tender expression, removing all that is dreadful in death, and filling the mind with the idea of calm repose after a life of toil, with a reference to a future resurrection in increased rigour and renovated powers. In this sense it is applied in the Scriptures usually to the saints, 1Cor 11:30, 1Cor 15:51; 1Thess 4:14, 1Thess 5:10 Mt 9:24.
