Can you hear them rattle?

Dry bones... there's a valley of them in front of Ezekiel and God tells him to speak to them and they will come to life.  Ezekiel obeys and they begin to reconnect, get new skin, dance around.  Then God tells him to call forth the wind...he does... and they are filled with breath.
It's a picture painted representing the new life God wants to give his people.
This passage paired with John 11... Jesus giving new life to his friend Lazarus after his being dead for 4 days, wrapped in death cloths and placed in a tomb, is an awesome twosome.
Why would these passages be here and now, as lent is drawing to a close?

A foretaste...  a glimpse into the next 2 weeks... death and then new life in Christ.
Jesus is weeping... over Lazarus' death yes... but over death in general.  Death in his creation.
Weeping because his friends are mourning... and because in a few short days, he knows they will mourn again.  Knowing that death has to be conquered before life can reign supreme.
It's all on his mind and in his tears.

He calls out for Lazarus to "Come Out!"  And this man, wrapped in shrouds of death exits the cave.
"Unwrap him and let him go", Jesus says.
We get bound up with things that suck the life out of us, too. 
...crappy things.  weighty things.  hurtful things.  death even while we're alive.
Jesus came to bring life... 
He wants to unwrap us and free us, too. 
Throw off the death shrouds that stink and get on with LIFE!
The breath of his Spirit is blowing... across the dead bones in your soul... can you hear them rattle?
Don't they long to get up and dance?
COME OUT!