LOOSE HIM!

LOOSE HIM!

John 11:43-44

43 And when he thus had spoken, he [Jesus} cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead [Lazarus] came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

          Waddling forth from the grave was a man who had been fully dead but was now made fully alive by Jesus Christ. He was not, however, fully free. Bound hand and foot, Lazarus was still inhibited by the grave. He is like many believers today in the following ways.

          Lazarus was fully alive! We who were once “dead in trespasses and in sins” (Ephesians 2:1) have now been made alive by Jesus Christ. Although fully alive, death clings to us and inhibits our movement and our ability to respond to the One who has made us alive.

          Lazarus was bound! Many true believers are inhibited in their ability to respond to Christ by their association with the past. Actual grave clothes bound Lazarus but symbolic grave clothes bind us. Some sin still lingers to keep you bound hand and foot. Perhaps it is a former hurt that you just can’t get past. Some bitterness lingers like the stink of the grave.

          Jesus did not personally remove the grave clothes! Instead, he commanded that his friends “loose him and let him go.” The task of unwrapping our fellow believers belongs to us. We are members one of another and slowly we unwrap each other. I suspect that, after four days, the process was unpleasant. Be patient with those you are trying to unwrap and be prepared for the unpleasantness.

Dear Lord, although fully alive, I am still bound in many ways. Send those who are able to unwrap me and let me be active in unwrapping others. AMEN