"And he that was dead came forth,
bound hand and foot with raveclothes:
and his face was bound about with a napkin.
Jesus saith unto them, Loose, him, and let him go."
- John 11:44

It was too late.

Lazarus had been dead four days when Jesus arrived in Bethany.   He had been buried and the mourning was all but over.   

Mary even voiced her despair by saying, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

By everyone's estimation, it was too late.

Everyone but Jesus, that is.

Jesus asked, "Where have you laid him?"  He was led to the  grave and the Bible says He wept...

...oh, it wasn't because Lazarus was dead.  Jesus knew what was about to happen.  He wept because of the people's unbelief.  

Jesus proceeded to the tomb and prayed to the Father in Heaven. Then, "He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."  The Bible  says, "HE THAT WAS DEAD came forth, BOUND HAND AND  FOOT WITH GRAVECLOTHES:  and his face was BOUND about  with a napkin."

And what did Jesus do?  He said, "Loose him, and let him go."

Lazarus was free!

And the people marvelled at what Jesus had done.

My friends, this passage of scripture holds a special place in my  heart, because, you see, Jesus did something very similar in my life.   Let me explain...

While Lazarus had been dead four days when Christ resurrected  Him, I had been dead fourteen years.  Dead in my trespasses and  sins, that is.  Many looked at my life and, even though I was still  young, maybe started thinking, "It's too late."  He's already into too  much trouble.  He's drinking and cursing and experimenting with  drugs.  He's a liar and a cheater and selfish.  Oh yes, there were  those that thought it was too late.

But Jesus thought it was the right time for a resurrection.

I am sure that He wept over my  unbelief.  But, He knew, things  were about to change.

He found me at church camp in the summer of 1984.  I  remember that night very well.  During the invitation time on the  last night of church camp, I heard those words that Lazarus  heard..."Come forth."  I went to that altar and prayed for  forgiveness.  Jesus saw me much like He saw His friend Lazarus...bound hand and foot.  I was shackled in sin and unable to break free.  Sin had a hold on my life and wasn't going to give up  without a fight.

And what did Jesus do?  He said, "Loose him and let him go."

And the chains dropped from my hands and landed on the  ground with a thud.  The shackles that held my feet were unlatched  and disposed of.  Sin no longer had a hold on my life.  I had been  set free!

To this day, many marvel at what Jesus did in my life.

Christian, do you know someone who is lost and without  Christ...dead in their sins?  Do you have a family member, friend,  co-worker or neighbor that you have a burden for?  Don't despair.   Don't give up.  It's not too late, even though it may seem like it is.  

As long as that person is alive there is hope for salvation.  Keep  praying.  Keep witnessing.  Keep trusting...