Introduction: This may not be the typical Easter message, but it has everything to do with the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christianity. Without the resurrection we have no salvation, new birth, new life. But prior to the Lord�s resurrection, Jesus wanted people to know that He was the resurrection and He was the life and the account of Lazarus presents us with nuggets of gold relating to a resurrected life and new life in Christ. This was the last and greatest of Jesus� miracles recorded in John. The circumstances surrounding the death of Lazarus were for the benefit of the disciples, the people then and for us today. What important principles do we glean from the events that occurred at Bethany? The resurrection of Lazarus from the dead was for the glory of God and that the Son might be glorified (11:4). A resurrected life will bring glory to God. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:1, �You, has He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.� We were dead and Christ gave us new life, a life that is to glorify the Son of God. Does it? When Lazarus was resurrected, many that had seen him alive from the dead believed on Jesus. Jesus would show that death to Him was not an impassable barrier, but a call to battle. His desire was to educate them and us of a faith that transcends death. Christ is not only the resurrection, but also, the life in resurrection (11:25-26). A lesson not only Martha needed to learn, but we also. Anyone who believes on Jesus Christ, though he were dead, he will live a new life. And when one has new life, he will never die, but live eternally. Notice what Jesus said in verse 15. Even His disciples were not fully sure about resurrection. Conformation of the resurrection in our minds is the most essential requirement of the new birth. �Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.� Rom.6: 4, (see also Rom. 10:9-10). Now we come to the tomb, a cave and a stone, where Lazarus had been laid. The cave is a place of darkness, a place where there is no light. Jesus said in Jo. 3:19, �that men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.� CAVE: place of darkness, absence of light (John 3:19, 1Jo. 2:11). STONE: a covering, that which keeps out the light (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Without Christ, the Light, we are in darkness in our cave and dead in our sin and trespasses (Eph.2:1). Satan, the stone covering the entrance, continues to blind our minds to the glorious truth of the resurrection (2 Cor. 4:3-4). Many �priests and Pharisee� of today continue to disavow the resurrection even as they did then (47-48, 12:10-11). Religious teachers today do their best to minimize the resurrection and focus on other things that produce a work and not faith. Jesus then prayed to the Father, because of the people that were gathered there in order that they might believe that He is from God and that He is the resurrection. To produce a victorious faith in the followers, He called Lazarus by name (Jo. 5:25). When Lazarus heard the voice of the Son of God, he came forth, alive from the dead. Likewise, when we hear the voice of the Son calling us, we come forth alive from the dead, but it doesn�t end there! �And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin� (44). The Jewish system of preparing a body for burial was �swathing it with bandage-like wrappings from the armpits to the feet, leaving the shoulders bare, and with a cloth (�napkin�) wrapped around the head. Such wrapping would effectively prevent any means of movement or locomotion on the part of Lazarus. We see a miraculous resurrection had occurred. He, who was dead for four days, stood up and came to the opening of the cave, came to the Light. We can liken that also to one who has received Christ as Lord and Savior and experienced new birth. But we, like Lazarus, are bound up with grave clothes, the trappings that encase the corruption of death. Lazarus was alive again but limited in his ability. Our �graveclothes� are the trappings that Satan uses to bind us to keep us from obeying God and doing what He expects us to do. We are wrapped with religion, traditions, rituals, and negativism. The result of a resurrected life is one that brings glory to the Father and causes others to believe on Him. Does our life bring glory to the Father? Does our new life cause others to believe? If not, why? When the many of the people gathered there at Bethany, saw the things that Jesus did, they believed on Him. What did Jesus do in your life? Have you been resurrected to new life? Jesus is calling you out. He is saying, �Take away the stone and come forth.� Do you hear the voice of the Son of God? On this resurrection Sunday as we celebrate the greatest miracle, you also can experience the same. BACK