When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
John 11:43-44 NIV
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Lazarus was dead and buried. Four days later, Jesus came, told the family to open the tomb, and then called Lazarus to come out of the grave. It was a powerful miracle that led many of those who witnessed it to believe in Jesus.
This miracle also serves as a demonstration of what happens to everyone who comes to faith. We were dead in our sin, separated from the life of God. But Jesus called us to come out of the grave, giving us new life in him.
When we came out of the grave, we were expected to shed the grave clothes, the sinful practices and attitudes that were a part of our lives when we were dead. And then be clothed anew with garments of righteousness.
Lazarus’ grave clothes were shed completely when he came out of the grave. Ours often take much longer to shed. But we should never be content to walk around in the filthy rags that characterized our lives when we were dead in sin. Leave that old life behind and put on the garments of righteousness that our Lord holds out for us. And live the holy life we are called to live.
