John Calvin Commentary John 11:44

"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 11:44 (ASV)

Bound hand and foot with bandages. The Evangelist is careful to mention the napkin and bandages to inform us that Lazarus came out of the tomb in the same manner that he was laid in it. This method of burial is still used today by the Jews, who cover the body with a shroud and wrap the head separately in a handkerchief.

Loose him, and let him go. To magnify the glory of the miracle, all that remained was for the Jews to touch with their own hands that Divine work which they had witnessed with their eyes. For Christ could have removed the bandages with which Lazarus was bound, or made them fall away on their own; but Christ intended to use the hands of the spectators as His witnesses.

Papists behave in an excessively ridiculous manner when they attempt to derive auricular confession from this passage. They say, “Christ, after having restored Lazarus to life, commanded His disciples to loose him; and therefore it is not enough for us to be reconciled to God, unless the Church also pardons our sins.” But on what basis do they conjecture that the disciples were instructed to loose Lazarus? On the contrary, we may infer that the order was given to the Jews to remove from them every reason for doubt or hesitation.