COME OUT!

John 11:37-44
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The Raising of Lazarus

37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.

But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”


Lazarus was a dear friend to Jesus (12:3). Even though we know that Jesus knew what the outcome of this visit to his tomb would be (12:4), Jesus was angry when He arrived. Closed up in a tomb … bound up in graveclothes … face covered with a headcloth … this was no place for His friend.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bare…

Are you caught up in something that makes your friend angry? Bitterness … addiction … jealousy … depression … unfaithfulness … workaholic … laziness … pride. Whatever negative thing is your bondage, Jesus has two words for you. They are the same words He had for His friend Lazarus.

Come out!