friend. Greek. philos, noun of phileo, John 11:3 . sleepeth = has fallen asleep. Greek. koimaomai. App-171 . go . Greek. poreuomai, to go with a set purpose. Compare John 14:2 , John 14:3 , and Matthew 2:8 , Matthew 2:9 . Not the same word as John 11:8 . awake him out of sleep . Greek. exupnizo . Occurs only here. read more
Then = Therefore. if. App-118 . shall do well = shall be saved. Greek. sozo', as in John 10:9 . read more
These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.ASLEEP IN JESUSLazarus is fallen asleep ... Of all that Jesus ever said of death, this is the most encouraging. (1) Sleep is a temporary thing; and so by this our Lord revealed that death too is not permanent. (2) Sleep refreshes and rejuvenates; thus in the resurrection this mortal shall put on immortality and this corruptible shall put on incorruption. (3)... read more
The disciples therefore said unto the Lord, If he is fallen asleep he will recover.If he is fallen asleep he will recover ... regards the usual fact that when seriously people have passed a crisis, they sleep. There could have been the thought of the disciples that "Since he is going to get well anyway there is no need for us to go." read more
John 11:11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth;— Our Lord might choose the expression Lazarus sleepeth, partly out of tenderness, as being least shocking, when he spoke of so dear a friend; and it may also be considered as an instance of that modesty which characterizes all our Lord's actions. He does not immediately say, "He is dead, and I go by my almighty power to burst the bonds of the sepulchre, and to command him back to life again;" but, avoiding all parade and ostentation, he chooses the... read more
John 11:12. Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.— The disciples, understanding our Lord's words in a literal sense, replied, that they took Lazarus's sleeping as a favourable symptom of his speedy recovery; and, by saying so, they insinuated that there was no need of their going into Judea on this account, to the hazard of their own, as well as of their Master's life. read more
11-16. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may wake him out of sleep—Illustrious title! "Our friend Lazarus." To Abraham only is it accorded in the Old Testament, and not till after his death, (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8), to which our attention is called in the New Testament (Isaiah 41:8- :). When Jesus came in the flesh, His forerunner applied this name, in a certain sense, to himself (Isaiah 41:8- :); and into the same fellowship the Lord's chosen disciples are declared to have... read more
12. if he sleep, he shall do well—literally, "be preserved"; that is, recover. "Why then go to Judea?" read more
Lazarus’ death 11:1-16In this pericope John stressed Jesus’ deliberate purpose in allowing Lazarus to die and the reality of his death. read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 11:1-44
BACK TO JUDEA116. Resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:1-44)While Jesus was still in the region between the Jordan and Jerusalem, he heard that his friend Lazarus, who lived in Bethany, was seriously ill. Jesus did not hurry to Bethany, because he knew that Lazarus was already dead. By raising him to life, Jesus would give unmistakable evidence of his unity with the Father (John 11:1-6).After waiting two days, Jesus decided to set out for Bethany. The disciples tried to stop him, fearing that the... read more