Reflecting on John 11:11-16“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” (John 11:11)
Jesus uses ‘falling asleep’ to speak about Lazarus’s dying.
We have our own similar euphemisms and metaphors:
* To kick the bucket, to meet their Maker, to pass away
* To bite the dust, to be pushing up daisies, to give up the ghost
Usually these expression have some element of truth buried in them.
I’ve heard many people say (believers and unbelievers), ‘they’re in a better place’
I see this as a hopeful sign that something in them sees beyond death.
One benefit of the sleep analogy is that it suggests we will wake up.
We sleep for a time, but then we wake up to a new day.
There is something hopeful about this analogy, to encourage us too.
A young boy dying of cancer asked his mom what would happen when he died.
Holding back tears, she reminded him of when he fell asleep while playing with his toys.
The next morning he woke up in his bed because she carried him there.
When we fall asleep here in the ‘playroom’, the Father carries us in His arms to our bed.
And the next day will be a new day, with new hope and opportunities!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, if we fall asleep, we will get better, we will wake up. You have broken the chains of death, and set us free from the fear of death. Help us to encourage others with this beautiful hope!