John 11:38-44 – “So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, ” Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  42 “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”  43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”  44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”  NASB

There is so much that could be said and so little space to say it regarding the passage.  Let us focus on one particular point, verse 44.  The disciples missed the messages when Jesus told them Lazarus was sick and sleeping.  Martha missed the point when Jesus told them to roll away the stone.  Those in the crowd missed the message as it all transpired, and it brought fear to the hearts of the Pharisees, and they targeted both Jesus and Lazarus as a result.

Some have argued that Lazarus is a type of the Church, and maybe so.  Others have contended he is a type of the last-day Christian, and maybe so.  Regardless of your typology or interpretation, take verse 44 at face value for a moment:

“The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, “UNBIND HIM, AND LET HIM GO.”  (Emphasis mine).

Several things are pertinent to our conversation at this point:

• Lazarus was dead and had been in the grave for four days. 

There is no question about this.  It was not some anomaly or aberration of the human body’s natural state – He Was Dead!

• Jesus ordered them to “roll away” the obstruction, in this case, the stone in front of the tomb.  

In our case, you fill in the blank as to what is causing spiritual death in your life and obstructing you from receiving the power, person, provision, protection, and potential that God has for you.

• Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth from the clutches of death. 

He calls us out of death unto life and out of darkness into the light.

• Lazarus came forth but was still “bound.”  

Sadly, sometimes, when Jesus sets us free from the clutches of sin’s hold, we still carry the baggage with us and are not truly free and need the help of those who are “living” or “spiritual” to help bring us to total freedom.

• Jesus’ command was simple, straightforward, and powerful: UNBIND HIM, AND LET HIM GO.’  

I do not care if it is tradition that has you bound.  It might be your mindset.  It might be your dogma.  It might be ten thousand things, but whatever it is, Jesus wants you to be “set free” from it and allowed to walk into the fullness of His light and love.

What is it that has you bound?  What is hindering you?  What is holding you back?  No matter what that is, Jesus wants you free and has come to “set you free.” 

May you be blessed and walk free of the baggage you have been carrying with you.  Blessings!