Friday, March 4, 2022
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him… John 11:43-45
Would You Like To Be Free?
We have heard this week about how Jesus came late – or at least it looked late to everyone else – to Lazarus’ house and he had already died. His sisters, Mary and Martha, were overcome with sorrow. Jesus was a little frustrated with them because He had told them that Lazarus would live again and they were having trouble grasping this in their grief. He went to the tomb with them and He said three words… Lazarus come out. With these three words, Lazarus came out of his tomb with his hands, feet, and face all still bound with linen strips.
Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
This whole scene was for God’s glory and so those who saw would know that Jesus was and would believe in Him - Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him. Many of those who witnessed this miracle then knew who Jesus truly was and believed in Him.
Jesus did two very important things in this account.
· First, Jesus ordered Lazarus to come out. With just three words he brought him back to life. “Lazarus, come out.” That is how simple it was for this miracle to be performed – for lives to be transformed. He has the power to transform any situation in our lives too. We just have to trust Him – that He is who He says He is.
· The second thing He did is to command them to unbind Lazarus. This act is a beautiful reminder to us that tells us that Jesus wants those who believe in him to participate in this miracle of loosening people from all that limits them from an abundant life.
We are called to be a part of this work and take the time to help those who can’t seem to get free from the grave clothes they may still be wearing because no one else has taken the time.
What is it that is binding you today? What has a hold on you? This picture of Jesus telling the people to unbind Lazarus is a beautiful picture of what Jesus does for us. He unbinds us and frees us from all that binds us. He calls us out of the death of sin. When we are sinners we are bound in our graves that we have dug ourselves. But His death on the cross freed us from our own death. Sin binds us and Jesus calls us out of this death and into life and unbinds us. He is calling you out. Move the stone. Let Jesus unwrap the sin that binds you and be free.
