Lazarus is Sleeping - John 11:11

John the apostle wrote after Jesus heard about Lazarus being sick, He “abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that said he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples said unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone you; and are you going there again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him”, and in chapter eleven and verse eleven of his book John shared how Jesus told His disciples, “our friend Lazarus sleeps” where we read:

These things said he: and after that he said unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps;

but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

The verse reads, “These things said he: and after that he said unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps; ” John began with the words, “These things said he” which means “the words concerning walking in the light uttered, declared and proclaimed Jesus”: “and after that he said unto them” or “and after Jesus spoke those words to His disciples He uttered, declared and proclaimed these words to them”, “Our friend Lazarus” which means “the disciples and Jesus' companion and close associate” “sleeps” or “is calm, quiet and has fallen asleep”. John shared how Jesus told His disciples about walking in the “light” and then told them “Lazarus”, their “friend”, was “sleeping”.

The verse continues, “but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” John added the words, “but I go” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover I, Jesus, leave and depart”, “that I may awake him” or “so I, Jesus, can wake up Lazarus” “out of sleep” which means “from his calm, quiet and sleeping”. John shared how Jesus told His disciples He was departing to “wake” “Lazarus” from his “sleeping”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus was determined to “wake up” “Lazarus” from His “sleep”, and though He spoke to His disciples about walking in the light, He was now ready to demonstrate what that looked like. Jesus came into the world to “wake up” everyone from their walking in darkness and sin, and without Him removing their sin problem, no one could relate to God. People will eventually “sleep”, or as we shall see “die”, like “Lazarus”, and only those who have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Let all who read these words allow Jesus to “awake” them from their “sleep”.

Next time John shares how Jesus's disciples say, “Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".