Removing Graveclothes

"Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

John 11:43-44

Shortly before His death on Calvary, Jesus performed a notable miracle in Bethany by raising a man name Lazarus from the dead.  Four days before Jesus arrived at the town Lazarus died, was wrapped in graveclothes, and buried in a tomb.  Being dead four days for humans is a permanent, irreversable condition.  The body would have been stiff from rigor mortis and bloated from the decomposition process.  Much to the surprise of the family because of the degraded condition of the body, Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away from the mouth of the tomb.  After uttering a short prayer, Jesus called out for Lazarus to come forth.  To the shock of all but Jesus, there Lazarus stood!

It was customary among the Jews to wrap the body of the deceased in linen and lay it in a tomb.  Limestone was a common choice for a tomb in Palestine because the stone was common, it was easily chiseled, and the mineral composition sped the decomposition process.  At the command of Christ Lazarus hobbled to the tomb opening, still bound in graveclothes.  What I find interesting is Lazarus was not given strength like Samson who ripped through layers of bonds as if they were threads.  Jesus told those who witnessed the scene to aid Lazarus in removing the graveclothes.  Only Jesus could provide resurrection and new life, but He provided a role for others in freeing Lazarus from the linen wrapped around his hands and feet.  Lazarus did not protest saying, "I've got this, Jesus!" but stood still while others worked to unravel the linen which held him fast.

It occurred to me that even as Jesus is the only one who gives life, salvation, and deliverance, often He has a role for us in helping others to walk in freedom and newness of life.  People are born and live their lives on earth dead in sins, and it is only by faith in Christ we can be born again.  Life only comes through Jesus and at His command Christians are called, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to practically help others to be free from bondage.  This could take the form of a word of wisdom, rebuke, or exhortation.  It could be faithfully supporting and praying for people who are struggling.  God might lead you to share a scripture, to spend time listening and perhaps speaking as prompted by the LORD, and to exhort one another.  It may even be to help throw out stuff or substances to which other are enslaved.  As we follow Jesus and heed His voice, He will lead us into all truth.

We are told in Galatians 6:1-5:  "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load."  This passage reveals how the lives of Christians are to be intertwined and interdependent as we follow Jesus.  Our natural bent is towards independence from others or dependence on others.  The healthy and vibrant spiritual path is realised when we are dependent on Jesus and bear one another's burdens, whilst still obediently shouldering our personal responsibilities God has given us.  Stripping a corpse of graveclothes cannot bring life, but when Jesus brings new life He often calls believers around the person to assist others to walk in freedom.  Only Jesus could supply life for Lazarus, but Jesus commanded others to aid him to walk freely.  God can do everything Himself, but He extends the privilege of assisting His work to us.  Amazing.