Unbound

John 11:1-45 is the lectionary text for next Sunday, March 29th.

I find this passage to be powerful, and not in the ways that others often do.
Yes, the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, is wonderous.

I find meaning in the unbinding.
I am a hospice chaplain and bereavement coordinator.
I am periodically confronted by folk who seem to think that Christians should not weep or grieve because of their faith in the resurrection.
I always remind them that Jesus wept, even stating that He knew he would raise Lazarus.
Jesus was in despair and wept.
He wept because of their weeping.
He wept because He felt the loss of someone He loved.
Grieving is loving. It is the hard part of loving.  We only grieve if we love.  So, Jesus loved and Jesus wept.  We love, and we weep.  Even knowing of the resurrection, we weep.

Jesus was unbound from fear of those who opposed Him trying to kill Him.
Jesus had just escaped being arrested or stoned to death.
His disciples were keenly aware of the danger to Him now.
But because Jesus heard of Lazarus' plight, out of love, Jesus risked His own life to attend him.
Jesus was unbound from fear to act in love.
Dr. King said that it is always the right time to do the right thing.
I believe that is true.

Jesus was unbound from the suppression of His grief.
Jesus was distressed at the grief of loved ones and the loss of one He loved.
He wept because He felt loss.
He wept because He felt compassion.
He wept because He loved.
Jesus wept.

Lazarus was unbound from death.
He came out of the tomb at Jesus' command.
He was alive and in no need of burial clothes, so Jesus unbound him from those.
The first resurrection was given by Jesus to someone else, not for Himself.
Lazarus would die again, to be sure.  He is not walking among us today.
But the truth and hope of resurrection unbound him from sin and its fruit, death.

How about you?
Do you see the possibility of being unbound from your fear?
    Can you see yourself understanding the realities of danger, but moving through them to
            fulfill your destinies in life?
    Can you see yourself knowing that it could go very badly, but still carrying on with what
            you know is the right thing to do?
    Can you be unbound from your fear by following Jesus, in order to follow Jesus?
Do you suppress your grief, believing that you should not feel the loss, or do you see the
    need to honestly, genuinely express your love in grief?
    Even knowing of the resurrection, can you fully express your love in loss?
Do you believe that you are unbound from death itself?
   Do you believe that Jesus went to the Cross to take your sin to its death, in order to give you
            His resurrection?
   Do you know that sin no longer binds you, because Grace abounds?
   Do you know the love of God in this?
   Do you see God's Grace in it?
   Does it make you grateful, and more gracious and loving yourself?

Jesus cries, "COME OUT!"
   Come out from under those things that oppress, suppress and bind you.
Jesus declares, "UNBIND HIM/HER, AND LET HER/HIM GO!"
   Be freed from those things that would hold you down, back or out.
   Let go of your fear, any suppression of who you truly are!
   Be unbound from the fruit of your sinfulness and even death itself!

We are meant to be unbound.
We are meant to be boundless!
We are meant to abound with steadfast love!

Pastor Jamie