Bible Text: John 11:44-57 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: John, Take off the Grave Clothes

 Recap of 8/5/12 (John 11:44-57):

1.  “John carefully selects seven miracles out of the many that Christ accomplished (cf. John 21:25) in order to build a concise case for His deity.  They are called signs because they symbolize the life-changing results of belief in Jesus—(1) water to wine: the ritual of law is replaced by the reality of grace (2:1-11); (2 )healing the nobleman’s son: the gospel bring spiritual restoration (4:46-54); (3) healing the paralytic: weakness is replaced by strength (5:1-16); (4) feeding the multitude: Christ satisfies spiritual hunger (6:1-13); (5) walking on water: the Lord transforms fear to faith (6:16-21); (6) sight to the man born blind: Jesus overcomes darkness and brings in light (9:1-7); (7) raising of Lazarus: the gospel brings people from death to life (11:1-44).  These signs combine to show that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.” (Talk Through the Bible)

2.  When Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave he came out still bound in the grave clothes, the clothes that spoke and smelled of the corruption of death.  Jesus orders them to “take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  Lazarus had been given new physical life but had to be released from the grave clothes to enjoy it.  In the same way those who come to faith in Christ pass from spiritual death to life.  In order to enjoy this new life we must take off the grave clothes of the old life and put on the new life.  We can’t live the new life in the grave clothes of the old, yet many Christians try to do just that.  A constant theme of the New Testament is that we must put off the old life and put on the new life (Romans 13:11-1 & Colossians 3:1ff are just two examples).