Unbound: From Death to Life
Scripture: John 11
A Misunderstanding That Changed Everything
On a bitterly cold morning in 1944, Japanese prisoners of war arrived at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin expecting the worst. They had been told Americans would treat them harshly, even execute them.
Instead, they were given warm clothing, safe shelter, and a hot meal.
When they saw white rice on their trays, many began to weep. In their culture, white rice was often served as a final meal before execution. They believed their lives were about to end.
But it was all a misunderstanding.
The American officers explained that this was simply how they were treated every day. What they thought was the end was actually the beginning of something entirely different.
In that moment, everything changed. The men believed they were dead, but discovered they were alive.
When Death Is Not the End
That same kind of shock and reversal appears in the story of Lazarus in John 11.
When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. There was no confusion about it. His body had begun to decay. The stone had been rolled in front of the tomb. The final boundary between life and death had been sealed.
Everyone believed the story was over.
But Jesus did something unthinkable.
He told the people to remove the stone. Despite their hesitation and discomfort, he called into the tomb:
“Lazarus, come out.”
And Lazarus did.
The man who had been dead walked out of the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths. The crowd stood in disbelief. Death had been reversed. What seemed final was no longer final.
Unbind Him and Let Him Go
After Lazarus emerged, Jesus gave a simple but powerful instruction:
“Unbind him, and let him go.”
This moment is more than a miracle. It is a calling.
Jesus did not remove the burial cloths himself. Instead, he invited the people around him to participate. They were called to help restore Lazarus fully to life by removing what still held him back.
This is not just a moment in history. It is a mission for the church.
We are called to unbind people.
To remove what holds them back from experiencing the fullness of life God intends. Fear. Shame. Isolation. Brokenness. These are the things that bind people, even when life has already been restored.
A Sign of What Is to Come
The Gospel of John does not call this event a miracle. Instead, it calls it a sign.
Lazarus being raised from the dead is a sign that God is doing something greater. It points forward to what is still to come.
For generations, people believed death was the end. Once someone was placed in a tomb, a coffin, or a resting place, that was final.
But through Jesus, we see something new.
God has power even over the grave.
The raising of Lazarus prepares us for the ultimate sign: the resurrection of Jesus. In just a short time, we will celebrate Easter, when Christ himself rises from the dead, revealing that death does not have the final word.
As Jesus declares:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.”
This is not just a promise for the future. It is a truth that begins now.
Living as People Set Free
The story of Lazarus reminds us that we were not created to remain bound.
Through Christ, we are called from death into life. And not just life, but abundant life.
That means we are also called to live differently.
We are called to:
Love God fully
Serve others with joy
See every person as made in God’s image
When we do this, we participate in the work of unbinding others. We help create spaces where people can experience grace, healing, and new life.
Just like those prisoners who thought they were facing death but discovered life instead, many people today live as though hope is gone. The church has the opportunity to show something different.
We can show them that life is still possible.
A Call to Believe
At the heart of this story is a question Jesus asks:
“Do you believe this?”
Martha believed.
Mary believed.
Lazarus experienced it firsthand.
And we are invited to believe as well.
We were once bound to death. But through Christ, we are freed to life.
And as people who have been set free, we are called to help others experience that same freedom.
___
Peace & Blessings,
Pastor Richard
Reflection
Where might God be calling you to help “unbind” someone in your life so they can experience the fullness of life?
Join Us on Sunday
Worship 10:00AM
