The miracle of Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead is undoubtedly one of the most dramatic miracles.
Unlike other miracles, such as the wedding at Cana, where only a few knew a miracle occurred (see John 2:7–11), or the feeding of thousands, where it took time for individuals to comprehend a miracle had transpired (see John 6:9–11), in the case of Lazarus, Jesus intentionally waited until it was evident that Lazarus was dead and decaying.
Even so, Jesus openly declared that He was acting on the power and authority of God. With confidence and conviction, Jesus called Lazarus back to life. You can read the entire account in John 11:17–44.
Putting ourselves in the gospel narrative is good because it helps us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. While I can identify with Mary and Martha, I must say that in this narrative, I most identify with Lazarus. Every born-again believer can identify with Lazarus.
Like Lazarus, I was dead. Ephesians 2:5-7 states that the unbeliever is dead in their trespasses, but belief in Jesus has made us alive together with Christ. This transformation from death to life is a testament to the power of Jesus’ resurrection. By His grace, we have been saved and resurrected with Him, and He has seated us with God in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. In the coming ages, God might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Like Lazarus, I was once wrapped in grave clothes. My righteousness, apart from Christ, was nothing but filthy, nasty grave rags. In John 11, verse 39, Jesus said, “Take the stone away.” Martha said, “By now, there is an odor, for Lazarus has been dead four days.” Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that all our righteous actions are like filthy rags. This stark contrast between our righteousness and Christ’s righteousness underscores the futility of our efforts and the desperate need for His righteousness.
The phrase “filthy rags” has a strong connotation. It originates from the Hebrew word “iddah,” meaning “bodily fluids from a woman’s menstrual cycle.” When God refers to “righteous acts” as filthy rags, He is saying that these actions stink like a dirty used feminine hygiene product. Thanks to Christ’s imputed righteousness, I have been given the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness.
Like Lazarus, Jesus sets us free. In John 11, verse 44, Lazarus came out, bound with linen rags, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said, “Unbind him and let him go.”
Jesus is not only life and resurrection to Lazarus; he’s also addressing a fundamental issue: Lazarus is still bound in grave clothes. “Unbind him and let him go,” verse 11:44 states. In John 8:36, we are reminded that whom the Son sets free is free indeed. This freedom, found only in Christ, is a powerful reminder of our liberation from sin.
Due to Jesus’ resurrection power, you can be freed from your stinking grave clothes and given the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness. Because Jesus is the life, you can know life abundantly and live unbound and loose from any entrapments that attempt to hold you in the grave. Believe on Jesus today.
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