11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus {d} sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
(d) The Jews used a milder kind of speech and called death sleep, and this same manner of speech is found in other languages, who call the place of burial where the dead are laid waiting for the resurrection a sleeping place.
11:11 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth. Jesus before called death a sleep (see Mt 9:24 Mr 5:39 Lu 8:52), because it was only a temporary slumber.
11:11 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth - This he spoke, just when he died. Sleepeth - Such is the death of good men in the language of heaven. But the disciples did not yet understand this language. And the slowness of our understanding makes the Scripture often descend to our barbarous manner of speaking.
11:11-16 Since we are sure to rise again at the last, why should not the believing hope of that resurrection to eternal life, make it as easy for us to put off the body and die, as it is to put off our clothes and go to sleep? A true Christian, when he dies, does but sleep; he rests from the labours of the past day. Nay, herein death is better than sleep, that sleep is only a short rest, but death is the end of earthly cares and toils. The disciples thought that it was now needless for Christ to go to Lazarus, and expose himself and them. Thus we often hope that the good work we are called to do, will be done by some other hand, if there be peril in the doing of it. But when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, many were brought to believe on him; and there was much done to make perfect the faith of those that believed. Let us go to him; death cannot separate from the love of Christ, nor put us out of the reach of his call. Like Thomas, in difficult times Christians should encourage one another. The dying of the Lord Jesus should make us willing to die whenever God calls us.
