Mark 5 "sleep"

[Eoghan]

Precisely waht is meant by sleep. I understand it to refer to death and separation from the body.

Why did Jesus use the term when it already has a more obvious and contradictory meaning? Ruling out an attempt at deception on the part of our Lord what is the explanation?

 

[Eoghan]

I Think there is a bit more to it. The term "asleep" and "sleeping" and "sleep" all seem to have a particular meaning in the NT. It seems to be applied to all "dead" believers. Is this a contradiction of a common misconception of a Sadducee use of "dead"?

 

[Kings Bro]

I think it is a cultural term like we say today that people "have passed away." Paul uses the term asleep in 1 Thessalonians 4 also.

 

[TaylorWest]

Given that the OT uses the phrase, "and [so and so] slept with his fathers," referring to the person's death, it might be that Jesus is pointing out a very important reality here, which comes to a head at the end of the Gospel in his debate with the Saducees.

 

[Eoghan]

Thanks guys I will be discussing it with my kids today in our family bible study