Loose Him, and Let Him Go
Called Out of the Grave into Freedom
SCRIPTURE:
John 11:43-44 NKJV - Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 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."
OBSERVATION:
In John chapter 11, we are reminded of the account of Lazarus’ death and that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
John 11:25-26 NKJV - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
In this chapter, we see that Jesus has power over sin and death. It should serve as a reminder that He still holds that power today.
When Jesus heard about Lazarus’ terminal illness, He waited two more days before traveling to Bethany.
John 11:4, 6, 11-12 NKJV - When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." ... So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. ... These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."
Jesus had a plan—to glorify the Father. The best way to do this was to raise Lazarus from the dead. There was no hope for him apart from Jesus. The same is true for you and me. We have a terminal disease—sin—that leads to death. But through His death, Jesus has brought us back to life.
When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, He was met by both Mary and Martha—each with the same lament: “If only You had been here.” Yet He was!
When Jesus asked that the stone be removed, Martha responded:
John 11:39 NKJV - Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
The stench of death had set in—just as sin brings a stench that only Jesus can cleanse away.
With a loud cry, Jesus called Lazarus forth.
John 11:43 NKJV - Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"
Imagine if Jesus had said only “Come forth!”—how many would have risen from the grave? Truly, Jesus has power over death—not only in word but also in action, as He demonstrated on the cross.
Another amazing thing happened when Lazarus came out of the tomb—the things that bound him were loosed.
John 11:44 NKJV - 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."
APPLICATION:
What has you bound today? Has sin left you in a spiritual grave? Listen to Jesus’ call: “Come forth.” As you do, the chains of sin binding you will be broken.
At the end of this chapter, Caiaphas spoke something under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Though unintended by him, it was God’s plan all along:
John 11:49-50 NKJV –And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, “nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
Jesus has made a way. Will we come out of that grave? Will we be free from the sin that binds us? Let us walk in newness of life—Jesus paid it all.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the cross. Thank You that I don’t have to be bound by sin. Help me walk in the newness of life. When I try to put on my old grave clothes, remind me—they stink. Thank You for paying it all. All to You I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, But You washed me white as snow.
John 11:43-44 NKJV - Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 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."
OBSERVATION:
In John chapter 11, we are reminded of the account of Lazarus’ death and that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
John 11:25-26 NKJV - Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
In this chapter, we see that Jesus has power over sin and death. It should serve as a reminder that He still holds that power today.
When Jesus heard about Lazarus’ terminal illness, He waited two more days before traveling to Bethany.
John 11:4, 6, 11-12 NKJV - When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." ... So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. ... These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well."
Jesus had a plan—to glorify the Father. The best way to do this was to raise Lazarus from the dead. There was no hope for him apart from Jesus. The same is true for you and me. We have a terminal disease—sin—that leads to death. But through His death, Jesus has brought us back to life.
When Jesus finally arrived in Bethany, He was met by both Mary and Martha—each with the same lament: “If only You had been here.” Yet He was!
When Jesus asked that the stone be removed, Martha responded:
John 11:39 NKJV - Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
The stench of death had set in—just as sin brings a stench that only Jesus can cleanse away.
With a loud cry, Jesus called Lazarus forth.
John 11:43 NKJV - Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"
Imagine if Jesus had said only “Come forth!”—how many would have risen from the grave? Truly, Jesus has power over death—not only in word but also in action, as He demonstrated on the cross.
Another amazing thing happened when Lazarus came out of the tomb—the things that bound him were loosed.
John 11:44 NKJV - 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."
APPLICATION:
What has you bound today? Has sin left you in a spiritual grave? Listen to Jesus’ call: “Come forth.” As you do, the chains of sin binding you will be broken.
At the end of this chapter, Caiaphas spoke something under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Though unintended by him, it was God’s plan all along:
John 11:49-50 NKJV –And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, “nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
Jesus has made a way. Will we come out of that grave? Will we be free from the sin that binds us? Let us walk in newness of life—Jesus paid it all.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the cross. Thank You that I don’t have to be bound by sin. Help me walk in the newness of life. When I try to put on my old grave clothes, remind me—they stink. Thank You for paying it all. All to You I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, But You washed me white as snow.
When Jesus calls you out of death, He also breaks the things that once kept you bound.
Posted in 04 - John
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Words Spoken at the Right TimeHe Will SaveShining as the StarSOAPRepentance: It’s a Good ThingDawning of a New LifePerfect Not PerfectionThe Cure for AnxietyThe Way We Think About and Treat OthersRight AwayTax Collectors and SinnersChoosing Christ Above AllThe Yoke of LearningHope In His NameWhere Did He Learn ThisImmediatelyFrom the HeartOn This RockMustard Seed FaithTrue HumilityMission ImpossibleMoved with Compassion
February
Change Your MindInvitationDrop the MaskGood News ProclaimedDid or Did NotYour Accent Gives You AwayEli, Eli, Lama SabachthaniThe EndIf You Are WillingSins Are ForgivenCrazy!Silence! Be Still!Saw and Heard – Jesus Something BlessedEphphathaRight PerspectiveSalt and PeaceServe Not ServedRemoving DifficultiesAbundance vs Poverty
March
Never FailAnointing, Betrayal, and DenialCarry Jesus’s CrossRolling StonesGod Will Never FailSalvation In Three StoriesSlaves and SandalsThe Lord's Favor Has ComeCalling All SinnersActing As ChildrenDo You See This WomanPreaching and Announcing the Good NewsWhen We Can’tGo and Do the SameHow You Should PraySet on FireOne More ChanceTake the Lowest PlaceNotoriously Lost, But Now FoundHow Great a ChasmFaith to ForgivePray and Never Give Up
April
The Way to PeaceCornerstoneGiven EverythingThat’s Enough EntitledEarly on a Sunday MorningFull of Grace and TruthDo Whatever He Tells YouJoy CompleteBelieve What Jesus SaidWhen Traditions Get In The WayBelieve and KnowKnow the WordDisciples – Know the Word, Truth, and FreedomI’m The OneEternal Life & Eternal SecurityLoose Him, and Let Him GoLifted Up