"Then his disciples said, 'Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."
John 11:12
Jesus told his disciples that Lazarus was asleep. He had been sick. They thought that he was literally asleep and would recover. However, Jesus was using sleep as a metaphor of physical death. In the story, Jesus called Lazarus to awake from death. When a believer dies, he falls asleep in death physically, but his spirit is absent from the body and present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).
Most people who think of sleeping, think of awakening after rest. Therefore, there is no fear in falling asleep. That metaphor can help us overcome the fear of death. Like Lazarus, we fall asleep physically only to be awakened in the presence of Christ.
Once I was in the hospital for a surgical procedure. It was necessary for the medical team to put me to sleep. I thought that I would slowly fall asleep. However, that was not the case. I fell asleep so suddenly and quickly. When I was awakened, it was to hear and see a nurse in the recovery room. I thought that must be like it is when the believer dies, only to be awakened by the voice and presence of Christ.
A gospel singer by the name of Jake Hess sang a song entitled, "Death Ain't No Big Deal." The song was somewhat humorous, but it had a good message. The believer should not fear death, because of Christ the Resurrection. Whose afraid to fall asleep? Then, why should the believer be afraid to die?
Lord Jesus, deliver us from the fear of death.
