Grave Clothes Part 2

John 11:1 – 44

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:43-44 

These two verses come at the end of the powerful story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. The whole chapter has been building to this point! Jesus spoke life to who was dead, and he lived again! What dead things in our world do we need to speak over with the resurrection power of Jesus? Paul prayed in Ephesians 1 that we be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. God’s will is that we would know and have access to His resurrection power! Let’s speak LIFE today over our dead dreams and relationships and see Jesus do only what He can do – bring life! 

It is important to notice that Jesus did the resurrecting. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 Here in Bethany, Jesus was demonstrating that He held power over death, and He foreshadowed that in a few days, He would conquer death once and for all on the cross! 

But the story of Lazarus does not end here! When Lazarus came out of the grave, he was still bound by his old grave clothes. His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of linen, and he had a cloth around his face. He could not see and was unable to remove the grave clothes by himself. Jesus could have “finished” the job of freeing Lazarus, but He did not. Instead, He asked those around Lazarus to do it. What a picture of the life and work of the church! Jesus does the work of salvation and giving of new life, but the church is left to disciple the new believer in the ways of Christ, helping him or her to be released from the sins of their past and to be released into the freedom of Christ! Who is God asking you to come along side today, to help them grow in the ways and freedom of Christ? Who is helping you remove your old grave clothes? Don’t be a lone ranger and try to grow in Christ by yourself! We need each other! This has been God’s design for the church from the beginning. Be a disciple and go make disciples! Who is speaking into your life and whose life are you speaking into today? If some names don’t come to mind, ask Jesus to show you who might be able to speak into your life as well as who you can bring along with you on this journey of removing our grave clothes and living in the freedom brought by the cross! 

Heavenly Father shine Your light on my heart so I may know the hope to which You have called me. Help me discover the riches of your glorious inheritance and your great power for us who believe. I choose to speak life today over my God-dreams that I have let fade away. And I choose to speak life to those around me, helping to remove old grave clothes that hinder life in Christ. And let my heart and ears be open so I may receive words of life from others. I pray today for my church that it would operate as God intended – making disciples of Jesus Christ! In the name of Jesus, Amen!