John 11:1-44

Ephesians 2:1,4-5

The story of the raising of Lazarus is without question one of the most dramatic stories in the New Testament. It is eclipsed in dramatic impact only by the resurrection of Jesus himself. God, who created the world from nothing, now displays the same creative power in giving life back to a man who was most certainly dead. The story leaves no doubt. He's been dead four days. In the King James version, when Martha is trying to persuade Jesus not to open the tomb, she says: "He stinketh." And that pretty much sums it up. There's no return, once decomposition has set in. But God’s power supercedes the bonds of death.

It’s a powerful story with many facets. We see in Jesus’ tears his great compassion and love. We see his persistence, too. It must have been a temptation to go immediately when he heard his friend was sick. Yet he waited, because he had a greater purpose than just making them all feel better right away. That purpose being to glorify God. The story also shows Jesus equipping people for ministry as he invites the community to participate in the miracle.

There’s so much that could be said, but in the brief time that we have today, I want to ask you to focus on one moment in this story, take a snapshot of it in your mind, and then we’ll see what Lazarus can teach us about our own life and ministry.

This is the moment: Lazarus has just emerged from the tomb. He is standing in the doorway, bound from head to foot with strips of cloth. A cloth is wrapped around his face, but through the gaps in the wrappings, he can begin to make out some familiar faces: Jesus, Mary and Martha, his other friends and family, their mouths hanging open in amazement. Jesus says "Untie him and let him go." With shaking hands, this community of believers begins to unwind the graveclothes so that Lazarus can rejoin the living.

Imagine Lazarus at this moment, gradually coming to the realization of what has happened. He was sick, so very sick, dying, and then. . .well, the memories fade. If his hands weren't tied down, he'd pinch himself to make sure it was real. Yet, this is too weird not to be real. You couldn't dream up something like this. Here he stands, a man who has been given a second chance at life.

They say that when you die, your whole life passes before you. I envision something kind of like that happening with Lazarus when he suddenly realizes he is alive. In the faces of his sisters and his friends, no doubt he sees the opportunity to tie up some loose ends. Maybe there were things he'd said to his sisters and then regretted. Maybe there were some things he had planned to do, but never got around to. Maybe his commitment to Jesus was less enthusiastic than it might have been. Now, he has a new lease on life. There's nothing to stop him. Well, except for those graveclothes--they're a little constrictive. He's as alive as you and I are, but he's still dressed like a dead man.

In this moment, Lazarus becomes a symbol that goes even beyond the wonderful physical healing that he has received. He is a picture of what happens to all of us when we come alive in Jesus Christ.

Read Ephesians 2:1, 4-5

Before we come to Christ, we are "dead" spiritually speaking. And Jesus calls us out of the tomb into a new life, with new opportunities and challenges we would never have imagined before. Like butterflies, we are new creatures in Christ. But sometimes we have trouble shedding that cocoon. While the new life is coursing through our veins, the trappings of our old life are hard to shake. Habits, beliefs, things we learned in our families, things we've done that haunt us, things people have done to us that wounded us. Behavior patterns that are tough to shake. Though we have been called to new life, the ways of death still cling to us like mummy wrappings. They don't negate the new life that is in us, but they can hold us back from living the new life fully. They constrict us, hinder us, hold us back.

That's where community of faith comes in. When Lazarus came out of that tomb, it was clear that it was Jesus who performed the miracle. There is no mistaking where the power came from. But what is so great about Jesus, is that he lets his followers participate in his miracles. When Jesus fed the multitudes with just a few fish and some bread, the disciples were the table waiters. They held the miracle in their hand, though they knew the power was not their own. And here, they are given the privilege of freeing Lazarus from his graveclothes. Without the community to unbind him, Lazarus would be left to struggle out of the death bonds himself. This unbinding shows the value of Christian community at its best. Those around Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, have performed crucial ministry. They were there to support them through Lazarus' illness and death. They went to tell Jesus about the illness. And now they have the privilege of setting Lazarus free to live his new life. This is a great illustration of what we can do for each other when God is bringing life out of death. We can talk to Jesus on behalf of our friends; we can support our friends while they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. And when the miracle happens, we can help them shed the cocoon and get into life. How do we do that? Through prayer. Through recovery groups and support groups, through encouragement and education. Through honest feedback: affirming one another's spiritual gifts and call to ministry; and challenging one another in areas where growth is needed.

As we come now to the Lord’s table, and as we enter into a time of prayer for healing, I want to encourage you keep in mind this picture of freeing Lazarus from the clothing of death. We don’t need to drum up the miracle. God will do that. First, we come to Christ, partaking of the Lord's Supper -- showing that it is God who brings us life through Christ Jesus. Then, as we pray for one another, for physical healing, for emotional wholeness, and for spiritual well-being, the graveclothes begin to fall away.