As soon as Jesus calls Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus is still not free. He is still bound by the grave clothes. Jesus does not unwrap him. No, the very Jesus who just breathed life into a man did not unwrap the binding grave clothes. He has some other guys do it. Why would he do that? He is perfectly capable of unbinding him with a snap of a finger or a word of his mouth.
Jesus knew the very people who wrapped him will unwrap him. Now, many of us are Christians. Many of us have been a Christian for a long time, but are we still free? DO we still feel free? There are still grave clothes.
I need the reminder, the gospel, every single day. Without it, I forget the gospel and its efforts to change me each day.
I need the people around me. I need the accountability of my gift of grace. I need the accountability of my good friends. I need that challenge to always get back to the gospel, the milk, the simple identity of Abba's Child. I need those around me to help unwrap me. Yes, God is capable of unwrapping me myself. He is perfectly capable of doing it with just a word, but I need to have my brothers as well to unwrap the grave clothes that bind me. It is God's design.
