Soul Food: “Unwrapping Your Graveclothes” by Katie Taylor

Unwrapping Your Graveclothes

Author: Katie Taylor

*This soul food was inspired by a local sermon at Rivertree Church on July 26th. This is a powerful message from a three-part series on Lazarus that is worth the time to listen! Message available here.

Then Jesus shouted,“Lazarus, come out!” 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!” (John 11:44 NIV)

In this moment when we see the amazing miracle of Lazarus walking out of his tomb, a picture is created for us of the mission of the Church: to unwrap one another from the former things and reveal the glory of God in each other.

Jesus invites Lazarus’s community to unbind him from his burial wrappings. Can you imagine what it must have felt like for them to hear their friend exhale new breath after being wrapped up? Or see his new legs step out of those graveclothes and start walking?

The beautiful thing is that Jesus didn’t unbind Lazarus himself while the community watched. He did the miracle of resurrecting him and then invited them to play a part in his transition from dead to alive. And Jesus invites us as believers to do the same thing today! He does the miracle of transforming and resurrecting hearts, and invites us to play a part in stripping off what no longer fits with the new identity he has given us.

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20 NIV)

We were dead; we are now alive and made new. But the truth is, we still carry around some dead, old stuff that doesn’t fit any more. We don’t literally have on graveclothes like Lazarus, but there are old bindings around us that we need the Body of Christ to help unwrap as we step into who we really are, things like fears, insecurities, idols, shame, strongholds, unbelief and lies.

Graveclothes have no place on someone Jesus has made alive! This moment in the story of Lazarus is a picture of the Church coming alongside one another and taking off the dead, former things to release what is more true, more real, more powerful and more life-giving. We are people who reveal the glory of God in each other and strip away those things that don’t fit any more with who we are in Christ and how we are called to worship and glorify Jesus in our daily lives.

As believers, we are invited to play a part in redemption and resurrection, to release people to breathe new life and unwrap them to walk in freedom. As the Body of Christ, we need each other and cannot do this alone. He asks for our hands to touch people who are being made alive, to unbind the former things and reveal the glory of God in one another. He has done the miracle and loves us enough to let us in on it. What an amazing invitation!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for making us new creations with new hearts and new spirits. We praise You for your resurrection power and for breathing new abundant life into our souls. Thank You for the Body of Christ; thank You for the people You have sent to unwrap us from the trappings of the enemy through truth, love and fellowship. Today, open our eyes to someone in our path who needs unwrapping. May we reach out, get our hands dirty and play a part in releasing them to the life Jesus died for them to have.

Reflection questions:

You can’t unwrap someone from a distance; you have to be close. Who do we let into our lives close enough to help unbind us? Who are you drawing near enough to help unwrap? What does community look like to you?

Who are the people who have helped remove your graveclothes? If someone comes to mind, consider reaching out to them today to thank them and encourage them in their walk.

Treasure Hunt:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 NKJV)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1 NIV)

Faith in Action:

As new schedules begin this fall, ask God to reveal what this picture of unbinding and releasing looks like for you. What trappings do you need release from and what does it look like for believers around you to help? Is it joining a small group, talking with a counselor, seeking out a mentor, opening up to a trusted friend, inviting others into fellowship or accepting an invitation? And who in your path may you specifically be able to help release and set free? Where is resurrection happening in our community and how can you draw near? Take a step!

About the Author:

Katie Taylor

Katie T. has a contagious love of Jesus and passion for reaching others for Him. Four years ago, the gospel transformed her heart in a powerful way and the abundant life since has been nothing short of a wild adventure. Katie’s prayer is for people in our city to know the hope they have in Christ no matter who they are or where they have been. She is the wife of Will Taylor and blessed mama of three young children. The Taylors are active members at Rivertree Church, and Katie serves in various roles at Choose Life and Lincoln Village Ministries. She loves to write and you can connect with her on her blog thefirstdayofspring.net.

Tags: church, graveclothes, Huntsville, Katie Taylor, lazarus, Our City On A Hill, resurrection