They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead — the laughter at Jesus is the mourners' confident certainty against his claim. Knowing (eidotes) that she was dead: they have the evidence of the body; they mock the apparent naivety of the one who claims she is sleeping. The laughter is not malicious but incredulous — the response of people certain about death confronted with an absurd-seeming claim.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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