Finally we are at the point of Lazurus’ resurrection! Here Jesus pulls back the veil of this world to give us a glimpse of what is coming. There is so much more. The possibility to live fully alive is available to each of us. What keeps us from living fully alive in Christ today? What needs to be loosed? Unbound in us? How are those around us already participating in helping to remove our own grave clothes? You are encouraged to share a part of your story with a safe, compassionate listener. The process of telling and retelling our stories is part of how we become unbound, real and more fully alive.
John 11:38-44 (NLT)
Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
For your reflection and prayer:
As you listened, was there a word, a phrase, an image, or something else that stood out to you? Notice what it stirs in you. Have a conversation with Jesus about this.
Place yourself in the story and enter into it as it unfolds. Who are you? Who is interacting with you and around you? What are you seeing, smelling, sensing, hearing, touching? Write about your experience in the story and allow it to be your prayer.
Slowly savor any consoling words or images which God gives you in this time of prayer. Simply rest in God’s presence with them.
Ask God to provide a safe place for you to share your story.