July 3, 2023

Waking the Dead

“This He said, and after that He said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.’ The disciples then said to Him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.” John 11:11-13 (NASB)

            There have been times in my life where I slept so well, I didn’t want to wake. My mom and now my wife come in and tell a few times to get up. I didn’t hear them though because I already went back to sleep. It was like waking the dead when I finally arose. I’m so lethargic that I can’t move. I imagine one day when I die, I won’t be able to move much because my body will be going into complete rest. I know when I do, I will awake to a new eternal life in Heaven. When Lazarus died, imagine him being in perfect rest, only to be roused by Jesus back to life.

            “This He said, and after that He said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.” When Jesus addressed the disciples, He told them that he was going to see his friend Lazarus. The term Jesus used, “has fallen asleep” is the word koimaō; meaning, to be dead, be asleep.[1] “falling asleep’ was a common euphemism for death in both Judaism and the Greek world.”[2] This wording means Lazarus death was more than just dying like some do in great pain; he had a calm death. Just as one goes to sleep, he awakens again. The same is true with Lazarus. He died, yet awoke to life in the spiritual realm. This also means the Jews were wrong about their teachings of the spirit leaving the body after three days. Jesus already knew this though when He said, “I may awaken him out of sleep.” His usage of this term is exupnizō; or to awaken out of sleep:[3] This meant Jesus was going to awaken, or to resurrect Lazarus from his sleep, in death. Just as Lazarus went to sleep in death, he would be awakened into life again, just as Christians will one day. Jesus saw the action He was about to perform as easily as one who wakes another from physical sleep. It was simple for Jesus. The word the disciples used as “fallen asleep” in verse 13, is the word hupnos; which means literally to sleep.[4] This is where we get the English word “hypnosis,” or “to put someone under.” The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant. They thought “He was speaking of literal sleep.” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus would get his rest, then there would no need to visit Lazarus because he would get better. Sleep is sometimes a good sign for the sick. Lincoln says, “The disciples are portrayed here as so dense as not to be able to understand the most obvious metaphor.”[5]

            When Lazarus was dead, he experienced peace. The peace of God. Peace with God. Now imagine being resurrected back into life. All peace is now gone, stirred by Peace in Person who wakens. The One who has the power over death and resurrection is calling you back to life. Just think about this; one day we will all die, but we will be resurrected by the One who died for each one of us, raising us to a new life. We won’t want to come back after experiencing heaven!

[1] Thomas, R. L. (1998). In New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Foundation Publications, Inc.

[2] Lincoln, A. T. (2005). The Gospel according to Saint John (p. 320). Continuum.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Lincoln, A. T. (2005). The Gospel according to Saint John (pp. 320–321). Continuum.