Loosing Lazarus

"[Jesus] cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go" (John 11:43,44, 12:1,2).

What a sight it must have been
At the tomb of Lazarus!
What a lesson learned back then;
What comfort now for us!

Lazarus was loosed above;
Earthly bonds were set aside.
Perfect liberty and love
Were his portion when he died.

But Jesus called him from the grave,
Choosing him to testify,
That Christ alone can surely save
And loose the souls of those who die.

And so we sorrow not as those
Who have no hope beyond the tomb.
Jesus Christ who died and rose
Has robbed the grave of all its gloom.

Those in Christ who safely sleep,
Are loosed forever as they wait
For the promise God will keep:
His shout that we anticipate!

That shout will come, we surely know
When our Lord comes for His own.
Thus we loose and we let go
Those He calls forth to His throne.