John 11:13 (ASV)

Passage

Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.

Nearby Context

John 11:11 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.

John 11:12 The disciples therefore said unto him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover.

John 11:13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.

John 11:14 Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

John 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jesus", "spoken", "death", "thought", "spake", "taking", "rest", and "sleep". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jesus" and "spoken", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "The disciples therefore said unto him Lord..." into verse 14's "Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly...", so "jesus" and "spoken" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jesus" and "spoken" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.