December 19, 2021
Why was Lazarus bound?
Simply because he was dead. It was custom to bind the dead. The Custom of darkness says “fall apart”. The custom of hell says, “You’re dreams and hopes are dead, why are you still praying?” The custom of the wicked says, “There is no God foolish Christian, why read the Bible?” The custom of false religions say, “We have the new answers, the right answers, and if you don’t do it this way you’re dead.” But Jesus doesn’t listen to the custom of the dead; He brings a new custom…it won’t be routine anymore to just wander around life like a mindless zombie; it won’t be the ordinary to just settle for broken things, messed up stuff, frayed nerves and worn out excuses.
How long was Lazarus bound?
Four days. You can’t bring him back after four days. Some have been living in the musty garments of the grave for months; your marriage has been dead; your confidence has been dead…but when life shows up he doesn’t need earth’s permission to enact his power. He has timeless grace. He has ageless answers. He’s got enduring truth. He’s walking in the prison door with everlasting mercy. That’s ministry for the misery. That’s expectations of a better day. That’s refreshing for the thirsty soul. That’s compassion for the relentless pain in your seemingly endless days of sadness. That’s a yes in God’s love for all the no’s you’ve had from closed doors, crushed affections, and rejected wishes.
The woman with the issue of blood had to deal with it for twelve years.
The paralytic at the pool of Bethesda had to endure shame and frustration of failure for thirty eight years.
Blind Bartimaeus sat by a highway as a beggar for over thirty years.
Sarah of the OT called her childless husband Father of Many nations for twenty five years before Isaac was born.
For over a decade, David lived on the run in caves before he got the crown.
The souls beneath the altar in Revelation cry “how long O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Listen now…
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