The miracle recorded in John chapter 11—the raising of Lazarus from the dead—is often viewed as the climactic demonstration of Christ’s power before His own passion. Yet, for the follower of Christ, the story of Lazarus of Bethany is more than a historical event; it is a prophetic drama illustrating the entire process of salvation and the essential calling of a Christian life.
The game-changing insight is this: the believer’s existence, after receiving the call of Christ, must be an ongoing, active fulfillment of the final commands given at the tomb.
I. Dead in the Grave: The Universal Starting Point
Lazarus was not just sick; he was four days dead. His body was bound, sealed, and beginning to corrupt. This is the scriptural starting point for every individual before Christ:
John 11:39 (KJV): “…Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.”
The believer must first be like Lazarus in this stage: Spiritually dead in the tomb of sin. This acknowledges the gravity of our condition, as stated in Ephesians 2:1 (KJV): “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” True spiritual life can only begin when we recognize the hopelessness of our sealed-off condition.
II. Hearing the Call: The Sovereignty of Salvation
Lazarus could not roll the stone away, nor could he raise himself. His resurrection was a direct, irresistible command from the Lord.
John 11:43 (KJV): “…Jesus cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
The believer must be like Lazarus in this moment: Hearing and obeying the authoritative voice of the Lord. Salvation is not a self-help program but a divine summoning. The power is in the caller, not in the corpse. This establishes the game-changing truth: our new life is entirely dependent on the word of Christ, just as the final resurrection will be.
III. Unbinding the Grave Clothes: The Lifelong Commission
This is the most critical and often overlooked part of the story. After Lazarus stood up, Jesus gave the final, dual command:
John 11:44 (KJV): “…and he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”
Lazarus was alive, but he was still bound. The Lord’s call had given him life, but his continued freedom required the action of others—a principle that defines the purpose of the Church.
The believer is called to be like Lazarus by actively engaging in the lifelong process of shedding the grave clothes of his former life:
- The Bound Hands: Represents the deeds of sin. The hands, now free, must be used for the works of righteousness (good works, missions, helping the poor).
- The Bound Feet: Represents the old, stumbling path. The feet, now free, must walk in the light and not stumble (John 12:35, KJV).
- The Bound Face (Napkin): Represents the inability to speak or see the truth. The mouth, now free, must proclaim the gospel—a direct commission to join the Prophetic Fulcrum by giving witness “unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14, KJV).
IV. The Living Testimony: Proof of Power
Lazarus’s final calling was to simply exist as evidence. His life was proof of Jesus’ power.
John 12:9-11 (KJV): “…and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead… Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.”
The believer’s life should be like Lazarus’s final years: a daily, undeniable testimony that is so compelling it draws the world to Christ. The ultimate test of the miracle was the enduring life of the man who had been dead.
The greatest challenge for the modern Christian is to ensure that while we have been called out, we are fully loosed and not still stumbling in our grave clothes.