Scripture:
John 11:38-44 ESV
[38] Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. [39] 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.” [40] Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” [41] So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always heard me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” [43] When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” [44] 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.”
Observation:
Jesus shows his human side when he approaches the tumb. The scripture says HE was deeply moved. HIS emotions were on display. However, HE still assessed how things looked. The stone would have to be moved for GOD’S glory to be seen. Even though Martha protested, saying that the smell would be too much, those who were in the crowd rolled the stone away from the tumb. Lazarus had been in there for 4 days. But none of that mattered to Jesus. HE knew that the Father could do anything HE wanted to. Purposing a question to Martha HE says, “Did I not tell you that IF you believe, that you would see the glory of GOD?” With the stone out of the way. Jesus lifts up HIS eyes to heaven and starts to pray out loud so that those standing around would see what happens, and their faith would be strengthened. Lifting up HIS voice for all to hear HE said LAZARUS COME OUT. What happened next more than likely shook the very core of those standing around watching all this happen. Martha’s brother, who had been dead for 4 days, walked out of the tomb that had held him captive. Bound in his grave clothes Jesus tells those there to Unbind him. Those things are not needed.
Application:
I have an interesting question and I hope you understand my point… what did your resurrection look like? Although it may not be as astonishing as the one we just read about, if you know Jesus, it did happen. Where were you when HE called you out by name. Was it the concrete tomb of a jail cell? Was it a hospital bed? A homeless shelter? The back row of a church pew? A broken marriage? The truth is it doesn’t matter what the tomb looked. All that matters is that you heard your name and came out. My next question is a little more interesting… are you still standing there in your grave clothes? What part of your old life of sin are you still holding on to? The truth is HE called you out of that life. You don’t need those clothes anymore because HE has clothed you in righteousness. The sins that put you in the grave no longer have to bind you today. You have been called out by name. I remember the day I heard HIS voice. It still rings in my head like it was yesterday. HE called me from death to life. The preachers name was Dwayne Johnson, and yes, he was a rock in my life for a long time. As he preached that morning, he spoke directly to my heart. Something inside me said you no longer have to live like you’re dead come out of that life. It’s not for you. That day, I knew I did not need my grave clothes anymore. I no longer had to be bound in the guilt and shame of sin and death. Now, some of you may be reading this SOAP and hearing your name being called… I don’t know where you’re at in this walk, so if that’s you… get up and walk out of the tomb. Stand before Jesus and Unbind yourself. That life is not for you. If, for some reason, you don’t know what that looks like, feel free to contact me privately, and we can talk about it. But know this the tomb is not for you, and the grave clothes won’t fit your life after you have been resurrected. HE is calling you out by name into a new life with HIM. That is honestly beyond your wildest dreams.
Prayer:
Father, I just want to thank you. The day you called me out of the grave has given me a new life in christ. Although I have tried to put my grave clothes back on a time or 2, you quickly remind me that the death you called me out of is no longer mine it’s gone. What an amazing GOD you are. You take all the broken peace and paint this beautiful picture of grace and mercy that we never thought imaginable. I will always be amazed by the way you love us. Thank you for your resurrection power. I know that the very same spirit that brought Lazarus and Jesus out of the grave lives in every one of us who has heard your call our name. Father for those who have not yet come out… I pray that today would be the day of their salvation. I pray that they will hear your voice and come out. Unbind their lives from the sin and become the new creation you have always intended for them to be. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.