Unwrapping Your Graveclothes

This post was inspired by a powerful three-part series on the story of Lazarus at Rivertree Church. This message about Lazarus coming out of his tomb is definitely worth the time to listen (from July 26th).  And, it was co-preached by Will! You can listen to it here.

Then Jesus shouted,“Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” (John 11:44 NIV)

In this moment when we see the amazing miracle of Lazarus walking out of his tomb, a picture is created for us of the mission of the church: to unwrap one another from the former things and reveal the glory of God in each other.

Jesus invites Lazarus’s community to unbind him from his burial wrappings. Can you imagine what it must have felt like for them to hear their friend’s new breath exhale after being wrapped up? Or see his new legs step out of those graveclothes and start walking?

The beautiful thing is that Jesus didn’t unbind Lazarus himself while the community watched. He did the miracle of resurrecting him and then invited them to play a part in his transition from dead to alive. And Jesus invites us as believers to do the same thing today! He does the miracle of transforming and resurrecting hearts, and invites us to play a part in stripping off what no longer fits with the new identity he gives us…

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