In The Gospel of John 11:43-44, Jesus stands outside the tomb of Lazarus and says:
“Lazarus, come forth.” And the Bible says Lazarus came out… but wrapped. Wrapped hands. Wrapped feet. Wrapped face.
Alive, but restricted. Breathing, but bound. That part matters. Jesus did not just raise Lazarus. He then turned to the people around him and said:
“Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:44
That hits different when you really sit with it.
Many of us have had a “come forth” moment. God brought us out of addiction, depression, shame, toxic relationships, church hurt, fear, bitterness, or dead seasons. We survived what should have buried us.
But resurrection is not the same thing as freedom.
Some people are alive in Christ but still wrapped in insecurity. Still wrapped in trauma. Still wrapped in guilt from who they used to be. Still wrapped in labels people placed on them years ago.
And if we’re honest, some of us learned how to shout in church while still wearing grave clothes. The grave clothes are anything connected to the old dead place:
- old mindsets
- old coping mechanisms
- hidden anger
- unforgiveness
- performance-based Christianity
- isolation
- pretending to be okay
Jesus could have removed the grave clothes Himself. But He involved the community. That’s powerful.
Sometimes God raises you, but people help unwrap you. That is why healthy fellowship matters. That is why honest conversations matter. That is why testimonies matter. That is why discipleship matters.
Some people don’t need another motivational quote. They need someone loving enough to help remove what death left behind.
And here’s the other side of it…
Some of us are called to help loose others, but we keep criticizing people who are freshly out of the tomb. Lazarus probably still smelled like death. He probably looked messy. But Jesus did not shame him for needing help after resurrection.
Neither should we.
This week, ask yourself: "What grave clothes am I still wearing even after God called me out?"
And maybe even harder: "Who around me is alive… but still bound?"
