Matth. 9, 18-26.
And as he spake these things unto them, behold, one of the chief came and fell down before him, and said, Lord, my daughter is now dead; but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and his disciples. And, behold, a woman, which had bled twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment. For she said to herself: If only I would touch his garment, I would be healed. Then Jesus turned and saw her, and said, "Be of good cheer, my daughter; your faith has helped you. And the woman was healed at that very hour. And when he was come into the chief's house, and saw the pipers and the tumult of the people, he saith unto them: Go away; for the maiden is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. When the people had been driven out, he went in and took them by the hand, and the maiden arose. And the rumor went out into all that land.
*) Cf. Erl. A. opp. var. arg. VII, 432 sqq. D. Red.
Here Christ shows the true contempt of death by denying that the maiden is dead and affirming that she sleeps. This actually belongs to Christ's office, namely, to make death small; just as Moses' office was and still is to make death great. Therefore, just as Moses awakens death, so Christ brings death to sleep.
One calls it a death, the other a sleep. Therefore Christ comforts with this word in a very special way, and calls all afflicted ones from Moses to himself, from death to life etc. And wants us to know that death has been abolished and truly turned into sleep in all those who believe in him.