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

11:44

And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes,

It must have been some sight to see Lazarus coming out of the cave with his burial clothes clinging to his body. He was bound hand and foot.

and his face was wrapped with a cloth.

Lazarus’ face was wrapped with strips of burial linen. Jews usually wrapped the head separately from the body. It must have been a shock to those standing by to see Lazarus shuffling out of the cave in grave wrappings. Everyone could see the glory of God in this!

Jesus said to them,

Jesus did not roll the stone away nor did he loosen the grave clothes from Lazarus. He wanted others to do this to make apparent the reality of Lazarus’ resurrection.

“Loose him,

Jesus commanded that someone take off Lazarus’ grave clothes. He employed others to set him free; those who doubted him became agents in taking off Lazarus’ grave clothes.

and let him go.”

Lazarus was now free to move without grave clothes. He operated as a free human being.

PRINCIPLE:

Our faith in Christ’s ability to raise the dead robs death of its sting and the grave of its victory.

APPLICATION:

Augustine once declared that if Jesus had not used Lazarus’ name when He called out, everyone in the grave would have risen from the dead in the area.

Jesus simply commanded Lazarus to rise from the dead, using no hype or theatrics. A genuine miracle needs none of that. Neither does the apostle John describe this situation in terms of dramatic reunion of brothers and sisters. He wanted to keep the focus on who and what Jesus is.