A few months ago, I accepted an assignment from our church to write a devotion about the raising of Lazarus. Writing was a struggle initially because this is such a familiar story. We know that as a result of Jesus’ delay, Lazarus had been dead for four days before he arrived. And despite the stench and Jewish belief that Lazarus’ soul had already left his body, our Lord directed the mourners, “Take away the stone.” We’ve also noted the authority in Jesus’ command, “Lazarus, come out,” and tried to imagine what it was like for Mary and Martha’s brother emerging from the tomb, dazed and wearing his grave clothes. His feet bound by linen strips; his face covered in cloth. What did I have to offer?
I prayerfully pondered John 11:1-44, reading it repeatedly. Pouring into my favorite podcasts, commentaries and Bible studies, I searched for clues that would point me in the direction of God’s will for this devotion. Slowly, ever so slowly, two words began to resonate within my heart. Grave clothes.
If Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10), why do so many of us fail to enjoy a joy-filled, abundant life? Is it possible that many of us still wearing bits and pieces of our grave clothes?
A.W. Tozier writes, “The devil makes it his business to keep Christians in bondage, bound and gagged, actually imprisoned by their own grave clothes.”
Smelly and rotting, grave clothes are the unhealed remnants of our old sinful nature. They are the bad habits, damaged self-images, crippling fear, rebellious attitudes, and insatiable appetites and addictions, which keep us from enjoying the freedom and victory Christ won for us on the cross. Scripture refers to these as strongholds.
A stronghold in biblical times was a fortress or citadel, which offered protection from the enemy because of its limited access. With regards to spiritual battles, the Psalmist refers to the Lord as our stronghold or fortress of protection. “But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge” (Psalm 94:22).
There is another type of stronghold that isn’t good for our physical, emotional or spiritual well-being. This is the stronghold to which Paul refers in his letter to the Corinthians. “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). These are the grave clothes, those remnants of our sinful natures, to which A. W. Tozier is referring.
Because of limited access to the areas of our hearts and minds where strongholds exist, few, if any of us, can successfully battle a stronghold without the healing power of Christ Jesus. The healing process begins with acknowledging the stronghold that exists within us or someone we love and submitting it to the Lord in persistent prayer.
Rest assured, the victory against strongholds has been won. Our Lord came “to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). Isaiah’s words are as true today as they were when Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth from the tomb. Our Lord calls us away from the stumbling blocks that prevent us from enjoying an abundant life of freedom, and he provides the power to make this possible.
I want to point out one more thing for you to consider. Did you notice that Lazarus didn’t remove his own grave clothes? Jesus directed the family and friends gathered around the tomb to assist. In addition to Christ’s healing power, we need the prayers and support of others to help us in our battle against strongholds. It’s not a one-way street, either. We need to help others in their battles, as well.
Jesus came that we would have life and have it abundantly. Isn’t it time to remove our grave clothes?
I appreciate your thoughts and found them enlightening. Purposely seeking to recognize then remove the strongholds with the help of Jesus and friends we have asked to pray for us gives another layer of understanding to being ‘dead in our sins.’ Thank you for responding to the request to write such a thoughtful devotional.
Thank you for your comment. Coincidentally (then again, with God, there are no coincidences), I am sitting here developing a women’s retreat entitled, “Remove the Grave Clothes: Rediscover the Joy.” Your words are an encouragement to continue in my research. God bless you, and thank you again. (Sherry)
I was swimming in a river I have been in many times over the years. I know the safe spots, and the dangers to avoid. I always wear a life jacket, and I like to float down river taking pictures and videos to share. I wasn’t paying attention yesterday and got swept into the Rapids. While the life jacket kept my head above water and kept me from drowning, it didn’t protect me from all of the large rocks I couldn’t see under the water. I slammed into rock after rock after rock after rock. I was frightened and completely out of control. By the time I reached the calm water, I felt so bruised and battered I had to crawl onto the river bank. I sat there for a while wanting to cry. I have been collecting River Rocks for years, and heading to the car I saw a rock about the size of a slightly flattened bowling ball. It had the most unique markings around it. It was so cool, I had to have it, so I carried it to the car. When I got home I took a picture of it and sent it to my mom in a text message showing off my latest treasure. She wrote back laughing and said it looked like the bandages around a mummy’s face. Her words struck a cord in my heart, and I began to research The Story of Lazarus. I felt like I was getting a clear message from God reminding me that Jesus gave his life to set me free. I don’t have to live in bondage to fear, addictions, sin, etc. A passage of scripture resounded in my head saying, Stand Fast, therefore in the Liberty wherewith Christ has set you free, and be not again entangled with the Yoke of bondage! This led me to your message. I have a relationship in my life that I have been rationalizing for 3 years. I know it’s not good for me. I know it causes me to stumble in my obedience to God. I know I don’t bear the powerful anointing that used to be on my music Ministry. I know God wants me to be free! I thought I would be protected in this relationship because Jesus Is My Savior and he understands me, but that was like thinking my life jacket would protect me from getting beaten up by the rocks Under the Water I could not see. I am so bruised and sore I can hardly move today. God has really gotten my attention. I am repenting from this relationship, even though we are not living in sexual sin, I am still in bondage emotionally and mentally and spiritually in ways that insult the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ my savior. I want to walk and live and breathe in the freedom that he died to give me! Somehow, I have gotten comfortable in my own grave clothes, but now I want them off more than anything! You made a good point that Jesus told the people there to unwrap Lazarus. I have been meaning to attend a couple of support groups to help me get over this dysfunctional relationship, but I haven’t gone. I am going to attend those meetings this week. I know others can help unwrap my grave clothes, and I can help unwrap theirs.
Good afternoon, Renea. First of all, I praise God that you were not hurt worse than the bumps and bruises you received, especially when you went over the rapids. Secondly, I want to thank you for the honest reflection of your journey both down river and in your spiritual life. What powerful imagery! You are right. God wants us to experience the love and freedom that Christ won for us on the cross. And He will grab our attention, allowing us to get bumps and bruises if it means setting us free.
Renea, God loves you. He wants your life, the essence of your soul, to be filled with song again!
I encourage you to join a support group, one that will help you avoid the temptation of returning to the dysfunctional relationship to which you refer. One that will pray for you, love you, encourage you, expect the best from you, and celebrate your recovery with you. One that will help you remove the grave clothes!
I am praying God’s blessings and anointing upon you as you journey into freedom!
Enjoyable read. I’m grateful that our grave clothes can be removed and that we have Jesus in our lives assuring an abundant life. We can choose to let go of our burdens, fears, addictions, and any other woes that come in the form of grave clothes. I’m glad Jesus is ever present at this moment in my life. He is all powerful and omnipotent. I need him to have the abundant life he promised free of the grave clothes wearing me down!!! Hallelujah!!!
Thank you, Debbie, for taking the time to comment. May all God’s children experience and enjoy the freedom Christ won for us on the cross!
So I was incarcerated 2009 and I forgot something word pleasure to come forward and take your clothes grave clothes off… I felt then to be free from all of the addiction that bound me! And missed me from them 6 years later I relapsed and even now a long journey to this point I’m still fighting! I love how you worded this…. It gives me clarity… Thank you for this
Hello, Sonya. Thank you for taking the time to send this comment as it will resonate with many of our readers. I sincerely appreciate the transparency with which you wrote this comment. I will keep you in my prayers. May you fully know and experience the joy and freedom that comes from walking with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.