Sold Out For Jesus daily devotion online
G. John White's first devotional Sold out for Jesus covers 12 vital themes of Christianity.
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April Topic: CHRIST'S RESURRECTION |
This is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions. You cannot build up a lasting meaningful relationship with someone who is dead! That is why Christianity is NOT a religion. We have a unique relationship with God's One & Only Son who is Alive today and for evermore. That is a meaningful relationship! Come; let's remind ourselves about what happened... |
John 11:44
TAKE OFF THE GRAVE CLOTHES AND LET HIM GO
That's a bit risky isn't it?
This guy has been dead for four days, and as Martha quickly points out there is going to be the smell of rotting flesh as soon as you take away the stone from the entrance to the tomb.
Notice Jesus is quite persuasive and in a voice of authority commands Lazarus to come out. We know why He mentioned Lazarus' name - if He hadn't, all the dead would have responded and the great resurrection would have come early!
Also, (I've just this moment thought of this), did you notice that Jesus actually "used" one of His friends for this "experiment"? Someone He could chat intimately to about it all and explain what He had done and why. (Otherwise, who in their "right" mind wants to come back to earth from being "with Jesus"?)
There is one problem though - poor old Lazarus shuffles very shakily forward like some Egyptian mummy. He even had a cloth around his head - what a frightful sight!
I doubt whether anyone was rushing to get close - more likely they were either frozen to the place where they were standing or moving backwards falling over each other in fear.
No wonder Jesus had to remind them that they should "take off the grave clothes and let him go!" I wonder who did. I'm pretty sure at my guess. I reckon it was either Mary or Martha! It was far too risky for anyone else!
Yes, Lazarus was "set free".
Do you know the challenge comes right down to us through the centuries?
So many folk are "bound" by grave clothes. Yes, the unsaved are. They don't know that Jesus frees them from death to eternal life, and if that is you today, listen - Christ died for you - He wore the grave clothes so you don't need to. He bids you "come out" from death to life. Hand over control of your life to Him and become free indeed.
But maybe you're a Christian, and you still need to be "set free". You've allowed yourself to be wrapped up "in the world's" pleasures, finances, debt, doubt or faithlessness, or been hoodwinked into believing the enemy's lies.
Jesus says to you today, "take off the grave clothes - and go!"
Or, maybe you know someone like that who needs help. Then Jesus says to you "take off the grave clothes from them and let them go." They may have to have your help to do so!
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