They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus.Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.
4 sermons cite this verse
… So the disciples said to him, Master, if he's asleep, he'll be saved. But Jesus was talking about his death. Well, they thought he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, Lazarus has died and I'm glad for you that I was not there that you may believe. Let us go to him. So Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples let us also go to die with him. When Jesus arrived he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem only about two miles away and many of the Jews who had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming she went to meet him. But Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you would have been here, my brother would not have died. But even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you. Jesus said to her, your brother will rise. Martha said to him, I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus told her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies will live. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. …
… but I'm going there to wake him up. His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he'll get better. Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, yo man, you're not getting it. Lazarus is dead. I like that sometimes God will nudge you. Sometimes God will prompt you. Other times God will speak to you plainly. No, it's time for you to start doing this. It's time for you to stop doing that. It's time for you to break, break up with that dude. He's broker than a joker. That's a word for somebody today. Hallelujah. I like that. Sometimes God will speak to you plainly because he wants you to understand exactly what he's meaning in your life. It says this in verse 15. And for your sake, I am glad I was not there so that you may believe, but let us go to him. Then Thomas, also known as Didymus said to the rest of the disciples, Let us also go that we may die with him. …
… but I go, that I might wake him. Then his disciples said, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well. However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he was speaking about taking rest in sleep. So then Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him. Then Thomas, who is called the twins, said to his fellow disciples, let us also go that we may die with him. And so when Jesus came, he found that he had already been in the tomb for four days. And Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away, and many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary was sitting in the house. And Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you. Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. …
… And the disciples said, Lord, if he sleeps, then he will get well. But Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that he was speaking about simply taking rest in sleep. And so Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him. And this is extremely cryptic language that Jesus is giving to His disciples when He said, He's dead, and I'm glad you weren't there. Why was He glad that they weren't there? Is He simply suggesting that He was glad that they weren't there because they wouldn't have to have been witness to the demise of Lazarus? Or is He saying, you haven't begun to see what I'm going to make manifest in the light? But He says, let's go to Him. And Thomas, who is called the twins, said to his fellow disciples, let us also go that we may die with Him. They're assuming that if Jesus comes back into Judea at this point in His ministry, this close to Jerusalem, this close to the seat of the authority of those who were in opposition to Jesus that they were, by going on this trip, risking their lives. …