True Freedom {John 7:10 - 8}
12:00 AM
I’m writing this post just as a woman
has come out accusing Judge Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct while in high school in
order to derail or delay the vote to add him to the highest court in the nation.
Everyone seems to be scrambling to discover the truth, and by the time you’re
reading this I hope we’ll have discovered it! What is happening today is
reminiscent of what was happening in these chapters we read this morning-
everyone, well not everyone exactly, certainly not the religious leaders of
that day, but there were others scrambling to determine whether Jesus was who He
claimed to be. So, Jesus assures them that there is a way of discovering the
truth for themselves, and not only that, the truth they are seeking will bring freedom:
So Jesus said to those Jews who had
believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in
accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the
Truth will set you free.-John 8:31-32
Jesus had just finished a speech at the temple where He has described
the differences between Himself and His listeners. “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of
this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe
that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:23–24). Could you imagine being there to hear such words? And
we learn a few verses later that the result of His message was that, “as he spoke, many believed in him”
(v.30).
Jesus then goes onto assure those who chose to believe
His message, ‘If you hold
to my teaching, you are really my disciples’” (John 8:31). This tells us that true discipleship has to be more than
mere head knowledge; a true disciple will “hold fast to [His] teachings and live in
accordance with them”. Which means they will not only accept His teachings as truth, but
they will also follow (or obey) them. James would later assure us that our
actions would be proof of our faith (cf. James 2:17). And then John would later go onto assure us that true
disciples will not only know the truth, but their eyes would be open to an even
greater understanding of it (cf. 1 John 5:20).
BUT even greater than that, Jesus went onto add, “And the truth will set you free” (v.32).
At this time in history, the Jews were under the rule of the Roman government. Even thoughRome
BUT even greater than that, Jesus went onto add, “And the truth will set you free” (v.32).
At this time in history, the Jews were under the rule of the Roman government. Even though
When Jesus said the truth would set them free, however, He was not
talking about political freedom (though the following verses indicate that’s
how they received the news at that time). Jesus had something far better for
them and goes onto explain in verse 34, “Very
truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Being a slave to
sin is our ultimate bondage, and the freedom Jesus was offering was a spiritual freedom.
Which for us means freedom or a release from the lifestyle of habitual
sin! Addictions to food, alcohol, prescription drugs! Freedom from fear,
anxiety, anger, doubts. Knowing the truth and following it enables us to
break free from the bondage's sin has had over us! (Some we may not even
be aware of at this time.) And this freedom enables us to stand firm on the Rock that is Jesus
Christ when the enemy comes at us with more doubts, temptation, etc.
BUT it gets better, for Jesus didn’t stop there, but continued with an analogy: “Now a slave has no permanent place in the
family, but a son belongs to it forever” (verse 35).
What was He saying? Simply, if they were to become disciples
of Jesus, they would know the truth of their condition and the truth about Him, and that Truth, which is Jesus, Himself (John 14:6) would set them
free, and bring them into the family of God.
Just how cool is that?
Just how cool is that?
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