Reading:
John 11:38-57
"Unbind him, and let him go."
This story continues with the resurrection of Lazarus. Our Lord goes to the burial site of his dear friend after he wept. He asks to have the stone removed from the entrance of the tomb. They are concerned because he had been dead for 4 days and that the body would smell. But Jesus is not concerned with this and the people do as Jesus asks.
They remove the stone and Jesus calls out "Lazarus, come out." The creator of life is calling into the tomb of death and by the power of His Word He brings forth life. Lazarus rises from the dead and comes walking out of the tomb still wearing his burial clothes. What a site this must have been. As the mourning turned to I am sure at first a bit of fear to see a dead man walking, then to joy to realize that death did not have dominion over Lazarus any longer. The Word of God does what it says, it brings about life.
It is the same with us. In the waters of Holy Baptism, God calls out and adopts you as His son. He calls out into the sinful life of our humanity and the plunges us into the waters of Baptism which is the water and the Word. We come forth out of the darkness and into the light of Christ. Because of our Baptism and being united to Jesus, Jesus says to us as well unbind him and let him go. Sin, death and the Devil no longer have you bound because you have been set free by Jesus Christ. You are free because Jesus Christ has set you free to set your mind on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. To Him be the glory. Amen.
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