“And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.'” John 11:44
In the story of the death of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, and him being brought back to life, there are certain vital lessons for the believer to learn if he would walk with Christ. The first is, never anticipate what God will do, for He will always do that which exceeds one’s expectations, and also, do it in a way that will result in Him receiving all the glory. This is so clearly illustrated by Jesus’ delay in going to Lazarus when he was sick. Word was sent to him by his sisters, Mary and Martha, that their brother was sick, and certainly needing Christ’s presence and power to be healed. They saw the imminence of death if Jesus delayed. And yet, He did. Why? The Lord would put beyond the reach of man even the slightest possibility of man claiming the glory of God by the healing of Lazarus. Not only would the Lord reveal that He was the resurrection and the life, but also, that He was the only sovereign God over death. His method in dealing with the situation of Lazarus being dead for several days in a tomb, was very simple. He would lay before Martha the principle of faith in the faithfulness of God according to His word. In response to the obedience of faith, Jsus would then “…cry out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.'” (Jn. 11:11:43) It was then that the miracle occured, and the power of the glory of God was quietly revealed. Lazarus comes forth, however, he is bound hand and foot by his graveclothes. He is living but he is limited. The first lesson of deferring to God to do His work in His way for His glory, has now been revealed.
The second great lesson concerns that of experiencing freedom from bondage. There is no doubt that when Lazarus came forth out of the grave, as the stone had been removed from in front of it, that he was alive. He had life. There was a problem however, and this had to do with him being bound. It was then that Christ, but this illustration, reveals that He gives life, not to just keep one alive, but that, with abounding freedom from bondage, the power of that life should be made known. Why is this idea and concept so very important? It is so because the Christian can have life by the Spirit, but yet be bound by false concepts and imaginations, which hinder him from fully following Christ according to the liberating truth of His word. This in freedom. It is the truth that sets the believer free, and Christ who is that power to use the truth to set free. The cross of Christ is a symbol of the work of Christ on the cross by which the believer died in Christ, to all that is of his old life before he came to Christ. In coming to Christ, he became a new creation, to live by a new power, that of Christ. All things have become new, so that, with feet that are unbound, and unentagled from the lies in the world, and a heart that is free from every burden of sin, having been cast upon Christ, and then filled with the anointing power by the Spirit, he is free to run, to serve God, with a joyful and free spirit. “Nothing between my Lord and me,” becomes the guiding principle of consistent fellowship with God, as the believer lives by faith only, and wholly in the Lord Jesus.
There is a third great lesson to be learned here, and it is that God desires and wills to reveal His glory. This He will do in the circumstances of His choosing, and in response to faith. He reveals His will, and calls the believer to go forth trusting Him wholly.
Dear Father, Grant us unbounding devotion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.