Come Out!
Come Out!
Living Beyond the Tomb
“When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11: 43-44
Jesus waited while Lazarus died. Writing those words, I feel impatient and anxious. Facing certain death, but with the power to restore life, why does Jesus wait? I’ve asked myself that question thousands of times in my life. “God, when will you take care of this problem for me? I know you have the power to do it, but why do you wait? Haven’t I suffered enough?”
The disciples, Mary and Martha asked similar questions when Jesus did not intervene to save them from their grief. They too were impatient. Confined to my tomb, I implore Jesus to keep my kids safe, to maintain my employment, to relieve an ache, or to help me sleep at night. Impatiently, I scheme to protect myself and question why God is not doing more to make me comfortable.
There is a tomb in my life that wraps me up in grave cloth, like Lazarus. It’s the anxiety that demands if I just do more, if I have the best plan, then my kids, my health, and my job are all tucked in and secure, like Lazarus in a cave. I try to find peace lying on the rock slab of my tomb, believing that rest is within reach. Twisting in my death strips, I consider everything that could go wrong and how vulnerable I really am. I plead with Jesus to fix it, so I can feel snug. I want comfort and relief, hoping Jesus will give me a little encouragement when I come to the end of myself and I’ve got nothing left. Jesus offers much more than encouragement. He offers life from death.
Like Lazarus, we are called to live outside of the tomb. The scripture above refers to Lazarus as “The man who had died…” That is a man without hope, a dead man on a slab, in a tomb. Dead men don’t need comfort, they need life. For me, to live in Christ is to walk out of the tomb, but this is not in my own strength.
Like Lazarus, when we are called, we have no choice to remain dead. We can only wipe our eyes, sit up, and leave the tomb behind. Unlike Lazarus, my awakening requires this daily reminder: Christ did not die to relieve my anxieties but in order to open my tomb and bring me to life. My prayer for Lent is that we will be dissatisfied with prayers for safety and comfort and instead be reminded that Jesus is saying, “Come out. Be unbound and go free!”
Lord, make us aware of this truth. Amen.
All Saints Contributor - Wes Johnson