If you have been a Christian for any length of time, chances are, you may have heard the story of Lazurus. In this amazing story of Jesus performing the miracle of raising his friend Lazurus from the dead, many Bible teachers and preachers often focus on the delay of Jesus’ arrival after hearing the news of his death. But today I’d like to draw your attention to another detail that is often overlooked, it’s found in the last verse of this story. Let’s take a look. In John 11:44 scripture says:
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.”
In verses leading up to this grand finale, scripture tells us that when Jesus asked Lazurus’ sister Martha to remove the stone to the tomb where he lay, she responded “ But Lord….by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” ( John 11:39 NIV)
I don’t know how old you were when you came to Christ. Whether you were four or forty-four, we all came to Christ with an odor. An odor of our sin that was washed away by the precious blood of Jesus through our faith in Him. The problem is, many times as Christians we continue to walk in our new life still wearing our clothes from the grave.
Before walking with the Lord, we had an old nature. We had a story, a story that we may not be inclined to shout on the rooftops. But when we came to Christ, those things became washed away. And although we may read the verses that tell us we are forgiven, we remain holding on to the old labels, and the shame that came with our old self.
Friend, I believe that today, God wants to remind you that you no longer have to walk in shame because He already paid the price for that.
Notice in that last verse that Jesus commands to “Take off” the grave clothes. I think it’s worth noting that in order for Lazurus to no longer be bound, there needed to be some action. In this case, it took someone else to help liberate him. Maybe today, God is calling you to remind someone whose they are in Christ. Or perhaps God is calling you to take action by getting into his word and reminding yourself of your new identity in him.
Wherever you find yourself today friend, I hope you’re encouraged in this truth, that you are free. Free in Christ, free from shame, from old labels and your old self. Free to be who God has called you to be. Amen