John 11:38:44 “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 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.”

 

This bible story is one of those that overwhelm my soul. I often think about how it must have been for Mary and Martha and the others to see this miracle take place. To have their weeping turned to shouts of joy and amazement. Can you imagine the electricity that must have been palatable in the air? I mean how often does a dead body that has been dead for four days come to life? In our ordinary mundane lives do you read of this happening? I certainly have not. We read in different areas of the bible where the sleeping/dead were brought back to life. Once where a widow was in the funeral procession and the body of her son was being carried out of the city and Jesus felt her pain and he brought her son to life. (Luke 7:12-15), there are several other instances as well of his raising the dead, look them up, they will grow your faith. 

 

Here is the really exciting part I have heard about it and I am a recipient of it and if you are a born-again child of God, you too are a recipient of this miracle. Before we came to Christ we were all dead in our trespasses and sin. We were bound up in grave clothes and bound for hell and a future without God. Our destination was eternal damnation, separation from God. We did not realize we were wearing grave clothes. The enemy of our souls had so captivated us with the lusts of the flesh and the so-called delights of this world that we did not notice the bindings that held us. But when Jesus called our name, suddenly we were made new. The bindings of grave-clothes were loosed and we walked out of the grave into the light of his glory and his eternal presence with us! 

 

The stench of death no longer clings to us, we have been resurrected into a marvelous realm of glory with Christ Jesus. Our bodies may “fall asleep”, but our souls will live on with Jesus. We will one day “fall asleep” in Jesus and step from this life into heaven our real home. We no longer have any evidence that we were once dead. All of that has been wiped clean. We stand before God in white robes with the righteousness of Christ Jesus and the blood of the lamb all over us. When God looks at us He sees only his son and the shed blood of the spotless Lamb of God. We no longer stand accused, our debt of sin was paid for and we are free in Christ! 

 

If that does not cause you to shout “Hallelujah” I do not know what will. Every time a sinner is saved all of heaven takes note of it, the angels stand in awe of it. It is a really big deal shouldn’t it be for us. If we walk daily in the realization of what God has done for us, it changes everything. The chains of this world no longer bind us, we walk about free, not weighed down by what life brings to the table. We see life through our faith and Jesus. He has already promised us that we are “more than conquerors” and “overcomers.” (Romans 8:37) (1 John 5:4-5)

 

No one likes death when someone we love dies it rocks us to our core especially if we know that person died in their sins. That is why we need to tell everyone about Jesus, we need to live our lives in such a way that others see him even if we do not say a word.  

Be the light in the darkness that you are called to be, do not blend in so well with the world that your light is dim. 

 

There is a song we sing called “Glorious Day”- Kristian Stanfill/Passion, these words are spoken, ” You called my name, and I ran out of that grave!”  His mercy saved us and His mercy made us knew, celebrate it, let that knowledge be the holy electricity that fills your day! No more grave-clothes…free in Christ all our shame and shackles gone, are you overwhelmed yet? I am: )