Jesus' reference to Lazarus as "fallen asleep" meant that Lazarus
Answer Details
When Jesus referred to Lazarus as "fallen asleep," he meant that Lazarus had passed away or died. This was a common metaphor used in biblical times to describe death, as sleep is seen as a temporary state that one can eventually wake up from, just as death is seen as a temporary state that one can eventually be resurrected from. Jesus used this metaphor to prepare his disciples and others for the miracle he was about to perform, raising Lazarus from the dead.