Tuesday 24th October
Read John 8:32-33
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
33 They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’” (NIVUK)
Jesus declares that holding fast to His word distinguishes those who believe from those who don’t. More than that, those who hold fast will know the truth, inwardly, and be finally free. Judaism taught that the study of the Law brought true freedom. Jesus declares that He, as the fulfilment of the Law, is now the place where freedom is found.
This immediately raises the hackles of His hearers. The implication of Jesus’ words is that they are enslaved, that they need to be freed. Their objection can’t mean they believe they have never been slaves for even the least educated Jew knows that almost every empire in history has held sway over them! They refer to their privileged status as the ‘seed’ of Abraham, inheritors of the promises of Yahweh Himself. They are ‘sons’ not ‘slaves’. They hear Jesus’ promise as one of inward, spiritual freedom – a privilege granted by God – and have no awareness that they need it.
Paul captures their assumptions perfectly: “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth – 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?” (Romans 2:17-21) (NIVUK). All the themes of Jesus’ conversation with the Jews recorded by John show up here – light, truth, teaching and judgement. Paul will go on to use a similar argument to Jesus, an argument concerning the nature of hypocrisy.
Today many people believe that freedom consists in being bound by no-one and nothing. The scripture maintains that is naïve and foolish in the extreme. True freedom comes from knowing exactly how you are bound up, and who you are bound to. If you are bound to Jesus and His teaching – you are free. Free to soar. If not, you are enslaved.
