What does "unbind him and let him go" teach about spiritual freedom? Setting the Scene: John 11:44 “‘Unbind him and let him go.’ And the man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped in a cloth.” Literal Miracle, Lasting Message • A real corpse walked out of a real tomb—proof that Jesus holds sovereign power over life and death. • The command that followed shows His desire not merely to raise us, but to release us. Jesus Gives Life, Then Liberty • Salvation begins when Christ calls us out of spiritual death (Ephesians 2:4-5). • Freedom follows: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) • The order matters—only the living can be liberated. Grave Clothes: A Picture of Old Bondage • Linen strips symbolize sins, habits, and lies that still cling after conversion. • Remaining wrapped restricts movement, vision, and witness. • Romans 6:6—“our old self was crucified with Him so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” Unbinding: Christ’s Word Applied • Jesus speaks; obedience follows. Genuine freedom demands responding to His voice (John 14:15). • “Stand firm then and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) The Role of Fellow Believers • Lazarus didn’t unwrap himself; community stepped in. • Galatians 6:1-2—restore the one caught in sin, “carry one another’s burdens.” • Church life involves patience, accountability, and tangible help as each believer sheds old wrappings. Living Loosed • Walk—new conduct (Romans 6:4). • Witness—visible evidence of resurrection life (John 12:9-11). • Worship—freedom leads to service, not self-indulgence (1 Peter 2:16). Key Takeaways • Spiritual freedom is Christ-initiated, Spirit-empowered, and community-supported. • Remaining in grave clothes is abnormal for the believer; liberty is the new norm. • Every unbinding echoes the gospel: death is defeated, and the redeemed are released to glorify God. |
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