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“Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?  Father I thank You that You have heard me.  I know that You always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe You sent me.  When Jesus had said this He called out in a loud voice, Lazarus come out!  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

John 11:40-44

Wow, can you just imagine being at the grave sight of Lazarus that day!  Many were gathered there weeping and sadden by the fact that their brother and friend had died.  Then Jesus arrives and tells them to take away the stone that covered the place where they had laid him to rest four days earlier.  Martha, the older sister of Lazarus warns Jesus that there is going to be a smell – Martha, Martha, Martha – but Jesus simply reminds them that if you believed you would see the glory of God.  The story goes on  and Jesus calls to the dead man and tells him to come out and what do you know – out of the tomb he comes!  Wrapped in his grave clothes, he appears to them.  Again Jesus instructs them to remove his grave clothes and let him go.  What a glorious day!

Have you ever experienced a glorious day like the one we just read about?  Most of you probably said “no”, but I want to challenge your answer.  The Bible tells us that prior to accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we were “dead in our transgressions.”  We, like Lazarus, were in a tomb of death and despair.  Then one day the Holy Spirit rolled away the stone that kept us from seeing the truth and the light and we were born again.  Jesus then begins to instruct that the grave clothes be removed from us so that we may go free.

Our belief in Jesus Christ can allow the glory of God to be revealed to us.  The Holy Spirit rolls away the deception and lies that have bound and blinded us for all those years.  But then many of us continue to walk around in grave clothes – the things that keep us bound, that prevent us from knowing and walking in the truth – the habits and  things that have become the norm for us, but keep us tied to our past.  Guilt, shame, things people have said about us or labeled us with – grave clothes; they keep our hands from doing what the Father has planned for us to do, Rags around our feet that keep us frozen in place so that we don’t go where God calls us to go, and binding over our eyes that prevent us from seeing the glory of God, we can't see our destiny!

Jesus told those that were there to “take off the grave clothes.”  We are all responsible to one another as part of the Body of Christ, to help one another take off the grave clothes.  God sets us free, but we often times continue to walk around in circles with our grave clothes on.  We are to help one another remove them – we are to take off our old self.  Our spirits are free, but our minds are still wrapped in garments of death.  Jesus reminded them that if they believed they would see the glory of God – He then prayed to the Father “for the benefit of the people” that they may believe.

Trust me, God has us covered.  He has clearly and meticulously marked out a destiny for each and every one of us. Do you believe?  How many layers of your grave clothes still cling to your body – to your mind?  It was for freedom that Christ has set us free; no longer to be subject to a yoke of slavery – grave clothes.  If you are finding it difficult to rid yourself of these fifthly garments, talk to a trusted friend – have them pray with you – let them help you remove the grave clothes.

Oh how He loves you and me!  Bless you.

Pastor Sydney