…Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:43
In the eleventh chapter of the book of John, Jesus had just been “deeply moved in spirit and troubled,” when he met Mary and the Jews who had followed her from her home Judea where Lazarus lay dead. After reminding the onlookers that their faith would lead to their sight of the glory of God, Jesus ordered that the stone covering the tomb of Lazarus be removed. He then proceeded to look up and pray to God. After He thanked His Father for listening he ordered, “Lazarus, come out!” So, he did. Lazarus emerged from the tomb with his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face.
I can’t seem to let go of the deep, personal implications of this selection of scripture. As a man who is, in a very real way, chained to death itself by my own selfishness, anger, hunger, and fear, I realize that I am no better, and possibly far worse, off than Lazarus was laying dead and cold in the tomb for four days. The emotional ebb and flow of this shell, these grave clothes, that I live in acts as a dead-weight straight jacket on my soul.
Through no merit of his own, but by diving mercy, he has been called out of darkness into wondrous light. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8). Unnecessary emotional suffering – depression, anxiety, guilt fear, and sadness – is vanquished by the transforming power of the love of Jesus Christ. (from DEVOTIONS FOR RAGAMUFFINS, by Brennan Manning, Pp.105)
Hope is graciously found in Jesus Christ’s promise to return life to the dead, like me, regardless of the sin-tarnished costume that I wear so well. By inviting me to turn to Him, He refilled my lungs so that I can carry on for His purpose despite my own continued flaws and shortcomings.
Until that day when I am fully free, I recognize that any good that may come from me is, in fact, in spite of me. Instead of originating in me, any good that seems to come from me is only an appreciative and restrained, yet, poor reflection of the unmerited favor and goodness of God.
His grace urges me forward each day in anticipation of the day when He will finally remove my grave clothes for good.
m e a n d e r s 
Whoa… This was so thought provoking. I’m still trying to swallow.
Hope is graciously found in Jesus Christ’s promise to return life to the dead, like me, regardless of the sin-tarnished costume that I wear so well. By inviting me to turn to Him, He refilled my lungs so that I can carry on for His purpose despite my own continued flaws and shortcomings.
This short prargraph completely and throughly explains where I am at this morning.
Thank you for encouraging my heart this morning.
It was better than my coffee this morning.
Awesome!!
Wow….This is an awesome post. I need my grave clothes removed too. I often wonder how we became so blessed to be loved by someone that is so awesome to us. I am unworthy of his grace but am so grateful to have it. It makes me strive to be more Christlike. If He can love and want me, then I can love everyone!
I am really enjoying your posts. So glad that I found you!!
I think reading more into the text is dangerous indeed…
Christianlady…
You’re opinion is certainly welcome. Knowing that you are not at all familiar with my life experience or the circumstances that led me to think in the terms described in this blog, it is not unreasonable that you could possibly possess the opinion that you apparently do. However, I read a recent post on your blog pertaining to the topic of “reading more into the text” and I simply don’t agree. My question to you would be, reading more into the text is dangerous to who? If I pursue understanding prayerfully and sincerely with my faith in God to guide me to truth, I have nothing to fear.