Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes, and let him go.” John 11:44

Continuing our study of the Gospel of John, we pick up at verse 39 of Chapter 11.  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John writes:

“Take away the stone,” Jesus said.  “But Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”  Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  So they took away the stone.  Then Jesus looked up and said,
“Father, I thank You that you have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.  When He said this, Jesus called out 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.  Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  John 11 39-44
Four days.  Jesus had waited this long to raise Lazarus from the dead, so there would be no confusion or discussion about him just fainting or passing out, and them just thinking he was dead.  As usual, every move He made was for a purpose.  That purpose was for us to see and know His power to save and give life, and to give glory and thanks to Abba Father, for sending Him to us because He loves us.
After they took away the stone, Jesus thanked Father in advance of Him calling Lazarus from the grave.  He thanked Him in advance because He wanted the people to know without question that He is the Son of God, who came down from Heaven and where His miracle working power came from.
With the stage set, Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, COME OUT!!!”  I do not know how long they waited, but soon the dead man came walking out of the cave/grave as the people watched.  There may have been some people running away in fright seeing this dead man walking, and there may have been some dropping to their knees praising God for this miracle that occurred before their very eyes!  But, what Jesus said to them was simply, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  There may have been some apprehension because they did not know the condition his body would be in having been dead four days, but Jesus knew he would be perfect in every way, and ready to get back to living.  He said, “Take off the grave clothes, and Let him Go!”
I love that story.  It is a story of Life. It is a story of how someone, or others around them can think they are dead in soul, and spirit because they have ‘grave clothes on.’  They can be clothed with fear, or anxiety, or depression, or guilt, or loss of spirit, or anger, or refusal to forgive, and feel dead within.  But if they will hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Take off the grave clothes, and GO”, they can get back to living, or in some cases START living.
Jesus has the power to do that, my Friends.  Father gave it to Him.  When He calls you out, Listen to Him.  GO OUT!  Let Him give you back your life if that has happened to you.  Let Jesus “Take off the Grave Clothes,” and get to living.
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