Lazarus – a picture of the saved yet stuck believer (John 11:44)
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.”
Lazarus here reminds me of salvation, he is raised to new life but comes out looking more like an Egyptian mummy than a person! He is still bound up, unable to move, see or talk freely… Jesus doesn’t just raise him to new life though, Jesus says to those watching on in amazement, unbind him, and let him go.
This for me is a picture of the total salvation that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. It would have been ridiculous for Lazarus, having been given new life to keep his grave clothes on! Yes he has been given new life but he needs those things taken off to really allow him to enjoy his new life.
Lazarus is a picture here for me of someone who is saved yet stuck. Stuck with the things that weigh us down, the things that hinder us and the sin that entangles us (Hebrews 12:1-2), restricting our freedom in Christ. Jesus’ concern is for Lazarus to be totally free (Luke 4:18-19) and so he said to…
This for me is a picture of the total salvation that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. It would have been ridiculous for Lazarus, having been given new life to keep his grave clothes on! Yes he has been given new life but he needs those things taken off to really allow him to enjoy his new life.
Lazarus is a picture here for me of someone who is saved yet stuck. Stuck with the things that weigh us down, the things that hinder us and the sin that entangles us (Hebrews 12:1-2), restricting our freedom in Christ. Jesus’ concern is for Lazarus to be totally free (Luke 4:18-19) and so he said to…
Interestingly Jesus does not tell Lazarus to unbind himself. I presume that’s because he was so wrapped up that he couldn’t help himself free. So Jesus tells those around Lazarus to unbind him and to let him go, let him be truly free.
We need others to help us walk into our own freedom in Christ, Jesus raises us from the grave of sin and shame, Jesus gives new life and Jesus’ desire is for us to walk in total freedom – and yet we need others to unbind us so that we can enter into our freedom that is in Christ.
- In what ways am I saved but stuck?
- Do I have grave clothes still restricting my freedom that was given to me in Christ?
- Who in my life right now has Jesus said to me; “Unbind them and let them go”?
- How do we unbind people (get them unstuck)?
Two words that matter 