A devotional on freedom

So I was reading the story of Lazarus the other day in John 11, and I was struck by some profoundly empowering thoughts. It’s a two part mic drop that I thought you might find encouraging too. Let’s dive in. For those of you that might be unfamiliar with this event, I’ll paraphrase below: 

The story of Lazarus takes place after Jesus had returned from Jerusalem. He was teaching at the temple and performing miracles there, so naturally it became dangerously filled with leaders who wanted to kill him! Shortly after he had left, he is informed that his friend Lazarus in Bethany (near Jerusalem) is really sick. Now, Jesus loved Lazarus and his two sisters Mary and Martha very much. Yet, he sticks around where he is at for a few more days before he tells his disciples it’s time to go back. 

Like any good friend, his disciples remind him that this was the worst of ideas; since Jerusalem is where the death threats are coming from. Jesus responds,“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to wake him... let us go to him.” Well, you can’t argue with that- so they all return to Bethany together.

Upon their arrival, Jesus finds out Lazarus has been dead in the tomb for four days. Upon hearing about the arrival of Jesus, Martha rushes to see him. She runs to where Jesus is weeping for the loss of her brother. Mary, follows suit and falls to his feet in tears mourning, lamenting that she wished he had been there, and at the same time, proclaiming she still believes. J

Jesus is moved. He sees all of the people that loved Lazarus surround these two women, mourning. He is deeply moved again. The bible goes on to say as they take him to the tomb where Lazarus lies, and he wept. 

There are so many beautiful things about this passage. For one, I find it interesting that Jesus the miracle worker who just caught flack for healing a blind man, waited a few days to tend to his friend. Obviously, this hesitation was intentional. It makes me think a little more about God’s timing. So often we want to solve a problem immediately or rush to answer our own prayers, when there are some things that we just need to wait and see what God is going to do. Perhaps he has something outrageously awesome planned, reasons beyond our grasp, and we just don’t know it. In this instance, he absolutely did!

Multiple times in this passage Jesus mentions to his disciples that it is for their faith to deepen and God to be glorified that he does what he does, when he does it. I wonder if he had been there immediately, what would’ve been different. Not only would Lazarus not have died, so the miracle wouldn’t have been “as miraculous,” but also - who would’ve missed it? Whose faith would not be solidified? By this time there was a crowd of mourners and it became a clinching point of belief for the people. And for us reading now, the testimony of this healing still strengthens our faith today. Also, how would we relate to Jesus differently has we not seen his interaction with the mourners? We wouldn’t get to see him heartbroken over loss. I think, it would change things a bit.

Which leads me to the second thing that strikes me; how humanly compassionate Jesus is. The fact that he was “moved” and that he “wept” just reminds my heart that he mourns with us in the hard things. He sees our sadness, our loss, our trials...and he takes notice. Yes, he loved Lazarus. It sounds they were really good friends and that Jesus spent a lot of time with this family. I wonder though, if there was something more to his mourning. If he was mourning for much more than the loss of his friend.

The passage says that when he looked at the mourners he was moved again. The disciples say, “see how he loved him” but there is no other indication that he was moved in this moment by only the loss of Lazarus. I wonder if he felt the depth of loss overall, for all of us. For all of man and woman kind will experience the feelings of heartache. Could it be this was a weight on his heart? 

Understanding that in the beginning this was never God’s intention, for death to be a part of the human experience. And here God is in the flesh, watching the people he created mourn in a pain he never meant for them to have. Knowing full well that we would experience this gravity of sorrow for centuries to come. Could he, in this moment, be sensing the heaviness of our reality? I am certain, as a creator, a father and a friend, this brokenness would make him sad...far beyond that moment in time. But for all heartbreak to come.

Perhaps that’s why his presence feels so near when we are in our deepest of heartaches. I think he knows, we need him then most of all. 

So then, the big miracle then happens, right?  As Jesus calls to roll the tomb stone away the people worn Jesus (which this part always cracks me up) “the dead body has been there for 4 days there will be such a stench!” He ignores that tidbit of info and tells them “if you believe you’ll see the glory of God. Roll away the stone” So they take away the stone and Jesus prays.

Side note: This communication with his father right before he is about to boldly step out on a limb and heal a friend is a beautiful reminder for me to do that too. For all of us, really. If Jesus, the son of God, prayed before he took a step of faith, before an action, before his words, and in the midst of doubters…is it not revealing? What power and faith would come if we did the same before a hard conversation, a decision, a moment you are called to and scared of. Perhaps there’s a mini lesson in this lesson.

After Jesus prays he calls into the tomb “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus comes walking out wrapped in strips of linen and Jesus says to his friends and family, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 

This is the other part really hit me. These words. TAKE OFF THE GRAVE CLOTHES AND LET HIM GO. All miracles aside, I can’t help but wonder if there is more to this scene. Well, more than the amazing part about a man who was dead becoming alive again. It got me thinking, does Jesus do this for us too?

I mean for our souls.

Does he see the parts of us that have died and need resurrected? Noticing where we need a bold breakthrough and a friend to show us the way. Especially when everyone (or ourselves) thinks we are a lost cause. I have a feeling he is longing to say the words NOPE, roll the stone away! Then speaking directly to us he calls; Sister/Brother, come out!

And we rise. Broken free from darkness. We are forever changed. Our brokenness falling to the floor like grave clothes of linen at our feet. 

He doesn’t even care about our stench.That it’s been collecting for days, maybe years! Perhaps he just cares that we live and live to the fullest. Does he look around the mourning crowd, the people that are in our lives that are affected by our encounters and take stock? Perhaps he understands that when our hearts are healthy we affect a lot of people in a good way. Could it be that he sees how our life touches others and its a ripple effect that is so powerful, we are worth him coming for and freeing up? 

And not only that…but maybe we matter enough for him to go back to a place he’s already been. A place he has already healed; already set free that got all twisted up again. Whether that’s bad habits, repetitive mistakes, generational sin, trauma etc. Again and again he proves our own nay-saying wrong and says WE ARE WORTH THE TRIP. Nothing will deter him. He travels back regardless of how it looks, he does the work among the doubters, he silences the lies, he opens a doorway, he calls us by name and he restores us to life. 

All of it. The waiting, the timing, the undoing of our own tombs with truth; it is all so that we would glorify God in our coming home...every time. 

What a powerful thought! 

I think a lot of us are good people, just trying to do the right thing. We work really hard to be the best mom, wife, friend, sister, employee that we can be. And it’s HARD WORK! Unique to our own experience we are individually made, crafted with intention and gifted with purpose. Yet, there are so many little parts of us that we hide, or areas that we struggle with that we don’t allow in the light. And those parts are important.

I wonder if we would be brave enough to hear our name be called. To stand up from the grave we’ve been sitting in and come out. Allowing the small places in our hearts that are bound up, to finally be set free.

Whether it’s a small part of you that died a long time ago, a fear that’s been keeping you hidden for far too long; or perhaps, the slow unraveling of becoming who you are meant to be all along. I believe this story lends itself as a reminder, that we have a friend to call.

We can be brave and let him know we are done with the sleeping. We are ready to be woken up to ALL he has for us. Our humbled hearts are longing to be unwrapped.

Below I wrote a prayer from this cavern of thought. Fill in the blanks with what is meaningful for your right now. I’ll be praying for freedom over and alongside of you.

God,

Thank you for this story, where you go to the depths of faith to bring life back to your friend. I ask that you come and find me too. Unwrap me from what continuously puts me back in a tomb. For me right now, that is _____. It causes me to feel ______ and keeps me from living fully in freedom. Father, come for my heart again, roll away the stone and call me out. Take the grave clothes from my eyes so I can see your love and be free! I long to be free to live and move and have my being. You set a life of love and joy before me, help me to step in it...loving you and others with in a way that brings you glory. Thank you for coming back for me, being my friend that you are heartbroken over my trials and joyful in my triumphs. Thank you for knowing my name and calling me out for more. I trust your timing is right, in all things. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. 

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen