Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 11:11-14

"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. The disciples therefore said unto him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover. Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." — John 11:11-14 (ASV)

But I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Let me remind you, my dear brothers who preach the gospel, that you will have to preach very plainly, for you see that even the apostles could not understand a figure of speech. When Christ said, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, they mistook his meaning, so he had to say plainly, Lazarus is dead. That is how we must preach the gospel; not only so that our hearers can understand it, but so that they cannot misunderstand it.