ACC ~ John 11 v11
FROM JESUSâ PERSPECTIVE, LAZARUS WAS SLEEPING
AUGUSTINE It was really true that he was sleeping. To his sisters he was dead; to our Lord, he was sleeping. To those who could not raise him again, he was dead. Our Lord awoke him with as much ease from his grave as you might awake a sleeper from his bed. He calls him then âasleep,â with reference to his own power, ⌠as the apostle says, âBut I would not have you to be ignorant, concerning those who are asleep.â [1] ⌠Asleep, he says, because he is foretelling their resurrection. And so, all the dead are sleeping, both good and bad. But just as it matters to those who sleep and wake again daily, what they see in their sleepâsome having pleasant dreams, others nightmares so scary that they are afraid to fall asleep again in case they reoccurâso it is [in death]. Everyone sleeps and wakes up again in circumstances peculiar to his own situation. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.9. [2]
[1] 1 Thess 4:13.
[2] NPNF 1 7:273**; CCL 36:424.
JESUSâ PRESENCE CONFIRMS HE PERFORMED A MIRACLE
HIPPOLYTUS For truly the death of human beings is counted with the Lord as sleep. Why does he say âI goâ? Are you unable to enliven the dead while remaining here? But, [Jesus says], the Jews in my absence do not receive the grace. For perhaps on his arising they will think Lazarus has come to life by some chance. I therefore am coming so that, if I am there, they will be eyewitnesses of the miracles done by me. And when they receive this grace from me, they can then be brought to a sure and certain faith. ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. [1]
[1] AEG 4:166*; GCS 1 2:217.
ANOTHER ENIGMATIC STATEMENT OF JESUS?
CHRYSOSTOM If anyone asks, âHow did the disciples imagine Lazarus was only sleeping? Why didnât they understand that death was meant when Jesus said, âI go to awake him?â for it was foolishness of them to expect that he would go fifteen stadia [1] to awake himââwe would reply, that they thought this was another one of Jesusâ dark sayings, such as he often spoke to them. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 62.2. [2]
THE DISCIPLES ARE IGNORANT, BUT PAUL WOULD HAVE KNOWN
ROMANUS MELODUS:
Again the Lord spoke to the disciples;
âSee now, Lazarus, our friend, has fallen asleep,
And I wish to go and awaken him.â
But they did not understand that the Redeemer referred to death as sleep,
Indeed if Paul had been there, [3] he would have known the word of the Word,
For, instructed by Him, he sent to his churches epistles
Calling the dead those who have fallen asleep.
For who can die if he loves Christ? How can he fall if he eats the living bread? [4]
He has in his heart the miracle
As a phylactery, [5] so even if he perish,
He will be resurrected and he will rise up
Saying, âThou art the Life and the Resurrection.â
KONTAKION ON THE RAISING OF LAZARUS 14.6. [6]
[1] About two miles.
[2] NPNF 1 14:228**.
[3] Paul makes the connection: 1 Cor 15:20; 1 Thess 4:13.
[4] Jn 6:51.
[5] The editor notes phylacteries were used to ward off illness and accidents. They were also used as reminders of the law among the Pharisees.
[6] KRBM 1:142-43.
Jn