Definition: Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from John 11:13 together. It’s a really interesting and slightly mysterious passage! Here's the explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is about Jesus anticipating a painful event – his crucifixion – and how people interpreted it. He was talking about death, but they thought he meant something different. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “John 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death…” - This is a key phrase. "Howbeit" means “though” or “even though.” It's introducing a contrast – Jesus was going to talk about death, but they were misinterpreting him. “…but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.” - This is the core of the problem. They believed Jesus was going to sleep peacefully and comfortably. They thought it meant he was simply resting and wouldn't be in pain. Why did they think this? They were worried about his suffering: The Gospels describe Jesus as being wounded and vulnerable, and people naturally feared for his safety. They didn’t understand the implications of death: Death is a profound thing – it means ending life. They weren't fully grasping that it wasn’t just about him dying, but about the end of everything . What does this verse teach us? It highlights a point about human understanding and our tendency to misinterpret things when we're scared or anxious. It also shows Jesus was aware of their anxieties and anticipated they would be troubled by his impending death. In essence, the verse is saying that people weren’t truly seeing the full picture of what Jesus was preparing for. --- Do you want to delve deeper into any aspect of this verse? For example, we could talk about: The context of the story (the events leading up to his crucifixion) Why it's a significant moment in Christian theology The symbolism behind "rest in sleep"