DAILY?READINGS: 1 Chronicles 3 to 4:23; Ezekiel 5-6; John 1:1-18
…Lazarus sleeps… John 11:11 (NKJV)
When Christ told His disciples “Lazarus sleeps”, He was saying that Lazarus’ body had died. In the New Testament, only believers are referred to with the metaphor of sleep, in relation to physical death. The figure has many comforting thoughts: Sleep is harmless (Ps. 23:4). Sleep is a merciful provision, affording relief from the day’s toil and sorrow. Sleep is a time of rest (Rev. 14:13). Sleep does not terminate life; a sleeping person is a living person (2 Cor. 5:8). Sleep is but for a little while; a sleeping person will soon rise again. —W. Ross Rainey
No longer must the mourners weep, Nor call departed Christians dead;
For death is hallowed into sleep, And every grave becomes a bed.
—John Mason Neale