Unbind Him and Let Him Go

New life here and now, immediate and ongoing—The call of Christ to life and to the work of setting others free.

Standing at the tomb of his friend, Jesus tells them to take away the stone. He doesn’t move it himself. He could have. But instead, he calls others to participate in the work of resurrection. Then, with a loud voice, Jesus commands: Lazarus, come out! It is not a request. It is not hopeful. It is a declaration that life must obey. In the face of death, decay, and grief, Jesus speaks life, and death cannot resist his voice.

Think back to yesterday’s passage and remember that Jesus was grieving. We noted that humans grieve. But Jesus, at a certain point, left his grief behind and made way for a new thing.

But Lazarus does not come out perfect and ready. He is still wrapped in grave clothes. Unbind him and let him go, Jesus says. Even after resurrection, there is work to be done. Resurrection is both immediate and ongoing. Lazarus is alive, but freedom takes time. There are moments when we feel Jesus calling us to step out of places of death and despair, yet we still carry the bindings of our past. There are also times when Jesus calls us to help unbind others—to be part of the work of setting people free.

And yet, we know that Lazarus would one day die again. This was not the final resurrection, but a sign. A promise. We live in the tension of resurrection now and not yet. The fullness of life is coming, but even now, Jesus calls us to live as people of hope.

John 11:38-44

Jesus was deeply disturbed again when he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered the entrance. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”

Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.”

Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” So they removed the stone. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. I know you always hear me. I say this for the benefit of the crowd standing here so that they will believe that you sent me.” Having said this, Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his feet bound and his hands tied, and his face covered with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

Psalm 30:1-5

I exalt you, Lord, because you pulled me up; you didn’t let my enemies celebrate over me. Lord, my God, I cried out to you for help, and you healed me. Lord, you brought me up from the grave, brought me back to life from among those going down to the pit. You who are faithful to the Lord, sing praises to him; give thanks to his holy name! His anger lasts only for a second, but his favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay all night, but joy comes in the morning.

Prayer

God,

You are the giver of life, the one who calls forth what was dead and makes it new again. Thank you for speaking life where I least expect it, for calling me out of places of death and into your light.

Yet even as I step forward, keep me from being bound in ways I do not always recognize. Old fears, past wounds, lingering doubts. So help me, God. Unbind me. Let me go. And when I see others still wrapped in the weight of what was, give me the grace to help unbind them, too.

Teach me to trust that resurrection is both now and not yet—that even in waiting, your voice still calls me to hope, to act, to love.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.