There is an interesting account in the gospel of Luke 49-56:

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Jesus says that the child is not “dead” but is “sleeping”, eliciting laughter from those present. It is noteworthy that the New Testament never characterizes the death of unbelievers as “sleep”, only believers. And it uses it that euphenism sixteen different times times. The New Testament uses a Greek word for sleep koimaomai 18 different times. While koimaomai may refer on occasion to normal sleep (i.e., Mt. 28:13; Lk. 22:45), it is predominantly (15 of the 18 times) used figuratively for the “sleep” of death (see Mt. 27:52; 1 Cor. 15:20; 1 Thes. 4:13-15). The 16th occurrence also uses another Greek word for sleep (katheudo) one tme for death – the daughter of Jairus, who had died (Mk. 5:35). 

The fact that the New Testament assigns the characterization of death as “sleep” solely to believers, and never to unbelievers, has powerful ramifications. Death (while still an enemy) has been destroyed by the atoning work of Christ and his glorious resurrection (2 Tim 1:10). I argue in my book that death for the Christian was changed at the fundamental level of reality by Christ – something that I characterized as “quantum change.” This change defangs and castrates death for the Christian. Death becomes peaceful for the believer . . . like sleep. The fact that the New Testament never characterizes death as “sleep” for unbelievers is telling. Judas commits suicide in Matthew 27:5 while Acts 1:17-18 graphically describes his death. In Acts 12:23, evil king Herod “breathed his last.” In Matthew 25:30, Jesus warned of “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” as the fate for unbelievers after death. In 2 Peter 2:17, Peter speaks of “utter darkness” after death for unbelievers. In John 8:24, Jesus warns the unbelieving religious leaders, “I told you that you would die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” Note that he did not say they would “fall asleep” in their sin, but “die in their sin.” At the moment of death, believers become sinless in contrast to unbelievers who bear the full weight and consequences of their sin.

Returning to the account of Luke, notice that Jesus makes a clear distinction between “death” and “sleep” (“she is not dead but sleeping”). Some see evidence for an age of accountability in this passage (the theory that children are covered by the grace of Christ until they reach an age of accountability). The child is not “dead” but “sleeping” peacefully.