Easter Week Devotional by Barbara Baker
Now when he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
John 11:43
If you’ve heard the story of Lazarus, you know it has a good ending: Jesus displays his power as God’s Son by raising Lazarus fromthe dead!
But what about the beginning of the story? Upon hearing that his dear friend is ill and near death, Jesus waits two days before visiting him. When he finally arrives, Lazarus has been dead for 4 days. Jesus’ friends and followers knew that he was able to heal, so why did Jesus wait until Lazarus was in the tomb and mourners had gathered to show up?
It seems the answer is woven into John 11 verses 3-4: “Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold he whom You love is sick.’ When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorifi ed through it.’”
Jesus’ timing in visiting Lazarus was not accidental. It was God ordained. He could have healed Lazarus like he had done with so many others, but God had something greater than physical healing planned. He was going to show that not even deathcould stop Him.
The resurrection of Lazarus was just a glimpse of what God was about to do through the death of His Son on a cross. God would soon show His power over death for all on Calvary.
John 11:44 says, “And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’”
Did you notice that Jesus did not remove Lazarus’ grave clothes Himself? He told others to do it – the mourners and Lazarus’loved ones. “Loose him and let him go.”
This is such a powerful display of God’s design for the church. Is there any one among us who hasn’t struggled with pain, shame, regret, an addiction, or a relationship that we cannot seem to leave? Just as Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, we are welcomed by our Lord into the light of renewed life and restoration! He, the Creator of All Mankind, declares freedom for His children.
After which, the congregation of believers is empowered to be a part of the bondage removal; believers are to show others the tangible love of Jesus that draws captives into the full realization of all that resurrection encompasses – a new life in the light. As our grave clothes fall away, our brothers and sisters in Christ walk with us and encourage us to be all that God has planned for us.
As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, let’s pause to ponder if there are things in our life that Jesus might be calling us to leave in the grave as we step into His light. Are we still walking around with our grave clothes on?
If we don’t have a committed body of believers to help remove the grave clothes, now is the time to pray and seek out a Bible believing congregation or even just a small group of loving folks who are ready to walk the road to redemption, helping us experience freedom. Jesus is calling, “Come forth!”
Jesus loves you! Me, too!