And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” – John 11: 44

Martha and Mary had sent word to Jesus that their brother and His friend, Lazarus, was sick. Jesus got the message, but waited two days before He came to their house. By the time He arrived, their brother Lazarus had already died and been buried. When the sisters saw the Savior, they cried and complained: “If you had been here, our brother would not have died.” (John 11: 34)

While weeping Himself, Jesus responded: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11: 25) Immediately, in spite of the doubts of the sisters and His disciples, Jesus brings Lazarus back step by step. (1) He went to where he was. The first request of Jesus was: “Show me where you have laid him.” I am going to get him. (2) He prayed to His father. He understood that giving life and bringing people back to life can only be done by the power and permission of God. (3) He called Lazarus by name. Just so that all of the dead people in the cemetery or history did not get up simultaneously, Jesus called Lazarus by name. (4) He commanded him to come forth. In essence, He was telling Lazarus: “You do not belong where you are and how you are. Come forth out of the grave and bondage which has taken away your life.” (5) He told the bystanders to loose him and let him go. Finally, after Lazarus did his part and came forth, Jesus turned to the crowd and demanded that they take off the grave clothes which still had him bound. Like so many of us today, Lazarus was alive, but not loose. The traditions of others, the fear of others, the opinions of others and the doubt of others continued to hold him captive even though Jesus had restored him to life.

You will never be completely free until those around you, who bind you, also set you free. To these, Jesus says: “Take your hands off of my property! Loose them and let them go!”