John 11:11-15

J.B. Phillips New Testament

¹¹ Jesus spoke these words; then after a pause he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him up.”

¹² At this, his disciples said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.”

^13-15 Actually Jesus had spoken about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about falling into natural sleep. This made Jesus tell them quite plainly, “Lazarus has died, and I am glad that I was not there—for your sakes, that you may learn to believe. And now, let us go to him.”