Unbound

"Unbind him,
and let him go.”

John 11:44c

Jesus didn’t just give life to dead Lazarus. Before Lazarus could live he had to first be unbound. True freedom came when, unbound by the restraints, Lazarus could move every joint, every muscle, every limb. Until then, he couldn’t get out and live his new life.

I once heard a preacher talk on living the resurrected life. Using this chapter from John he encouraged his listeners to live out the Lazarus story believing that Jesus could do the same in their lives. They may have been beaten down, trampled on, discouraged, feeling like death itself, but Jesus could speak into their “dead” lives “Lazarus, come out.”

I needed to hear this good word. But Jesus’ final words are what hit home. Absolutely! Living the resurrected life is available if we believe, but there’s a key essential that must happen to fully enjoy it. Jesus has to unbind all the straps that keep us bound up.

These straps could be a variety of different things and they change depending on the context. In a congregation it may be certain events, structures or traditions that bind up the resurrected life. Individually it may be attitudes, desires or fears that keep one tied up unable to live the new life.

Whatever the straps, Jesus says, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Yes, He wants all his followers to live a resurrected life, unbound by anything that keeps things status quo. Because you see, living a resurrected life is to live a new life.

Jesus, thank you for the
gift of a resurrected life.
Help me to live in that new life
by allowing you to speak the words,
“Unbind him, and let him go.”

Amen.

Artwork--The Raising of Lazarus, Alfred Leslie, 1975. Bayly Art Museum, University of Virginia