Bound and Unbound

The verb “bind” (Greek, deo) is used four times in John’s gospel. The uses form a little chiasm:

A. Lazarus emerges from the grave bound with grave clothes, 11:44.

B. The Romans arrest and bind Jesus, 18:12.

B’. Anna sends Jesus, still bound, to Caiaphas, 18:24.

A’. Jesus is bound in linen wrappings at his death, 19:40.

The structure links Lazarus and Jesus, and also links the binding of grave clothes with the binding of Jesus by Romans and Jews. 

But the structure contains a neat promise. When Jesus sees the first bound one – Lazarus – He commands, “Unbind him” (11:44; Greek, luo). Jesus has power to unbind the chains of death.

The memory of Lazarus bound and unbound should remain in mind when we see Jesus bounds in arrest. He has power to bind and unbind.

And it should be still in mind when we see Jesus bound in his own grave clothes. The Good Shepherd can call Lazarus from the prison of death; He can lay down His own life and take it up again. For now, He is bound in grave clothes: But Jesus has power to bind and unbind.