St John 11:14 says, “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” Before we accept Jesus as our savior we are like Lazarus, dead. We are not physically dead, but we are dead in our sins. Many people are bound by Satan; they are bound in grave clothes and on their way to hell.
Some people are bound by drugs, some by alcohol, and others by pornography. Others are bound by anger, hate, bitterness, guilt, unforgiveness; still, others are bound by sexual immorality, women with women and men with men and other types of the works of the flesh. The list of things a person can be bound by can go on and on.
When Lazarus was put into the grave a stone was placed in front of the grave. The stone represents sin. It is an obstacle; it prevents God from reaching us. It is something that has to be removed. That’s why Jesus died on the cross. He broke down the middle wall of partition. Now we can come boldly to the throne of grace. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again and took his blood back to the father he rolled the stone away because our sins separated us from God.
Jesus said, ROLL THE STONE AWAY.
He says to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
After the stone was rolled away Jesus prayed to the Father. Jesus called Lazarus by name. He said Lazarus come forth.
Jesus calls each of us by name. He called me by name, He said Nadine come forth, he says…come forth. He wants to set us free, free from the bondage of sin and shame and death.
He is saying, come forth, you no longer have to live in darkness, you no longer have to live separated from me, you no longer have to be defeated, you no longer have to live in despair. Come forth. Come out of depression, come out of fear, come out of homosexuality, come out of alcoholism, come out of drug addiction, come out of……? Come forth.
Lazarus heard the voice of Jesus and he came forth. He came forth in his burial clothes, bound hands and feet with a napkin over his face. He heard the voice of God in his condition; he heard the voice of God in his mess.
When Lazarus came forth, the napkin was over his face so he couldn’t see. He was blind, but he let Jesus be his guide. He followed the voice of Jesus. Today we are that voice of Jesus, those who know Christ and have a relationship with him. Those who follow him and keep his commandments.
Nadine Richmond
