Notes from a Sojourn
April 17, 2020
Linens
When Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead, he comes out of the tomb with “his hands and feet wrapped in a cloth.” Jesus says to the people gathered at the tomb, “Unbind him, and let him go” (Jn 11.44).
When Jesus’ friends discover his tomb empty on Easter Day, they look in and see “the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself” (Jn 20.6-7).
Lazarus’ emergence from his tomb is good news for him and his friends and family. He has returned to life as it was but he is still bound by the shroud of death. When Jesus is raised from the dead it is not only good news for him and his family and friends, but for all people. He is not raised to continue his former life – he is a new creation. Unbounded. Free.
Jesus who wept with us at Lazarus’ tomb now stands outside his own, unbounded from death, calling us to new life in him. We are not called by the Risen Jesus to continue our former life. In the power of his resurrection our lives are reborn to give new life to others. We are unbound to unbind others.
Colin+
