"Lazarus, Come Out!"

I have been reading John during my devotional times lately, and it has been incredible. I have loved reading the words that Jesus spoke. The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead really struck me this time.
The story starts in John 11:1. Mary and Martha send word to Jesus that Lazarus is sick. Jesus knows that Lazarus is going to die, but he stays where he is for two more days. In fact, in verse 4 Jesus says that God will be glorified through this. After two days, Jesus and his disciples leave for Bethany. When he gets there, Jesus is met by Martha. They take him to Lazarus' tomb, and Jesus commands them to take away the stone that is covering the tomb. They obey, and Jesus tells Lazarus to come out. Here is the part that really hit me. Verse 44 says, "The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, 'Take off the grave clothes and let him go'."
Isn't that awesome? Lazarus had been dead for four days. He was held captive by death and Jesus set him free! This made me think of things that hold me captive. I struggle with fear, and I feel that fear holds me in captivity when I let it. It keeps me from doing things I want to do. It sends me into panic, and it steals my joy. Fear becomes my grave clothes, and they wind tighter and tighter around my entire body, around my face, until it squeezes the life right out of me. Then Jesus is there, breaking through the darkness, breaking through the bondage of sin-and he sets me free! "Take off the grave clothes, and let him go!"