Freedom Found (John 8:31-36)
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Truth Gives Freedom
Truth Gives Freedom
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
The idea of the truth setting us free has become such a common phrase in our society that we miss the point and power. We often think of it in the human way that secrets bind us. How we gain a sense of peace when we admit the truth. But that’s not even the start of it.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is impossible for us to even comprehend true freedom apart from Jesus. The jews there didn’t in John 8:33 “They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?””
Its kinda like us today. We’re Americans Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. We’re all about giving freedoms to everyone to do anything, so long as they don’t hurt anybody in the process. Yet Jesus tells the truth.
Sin Enslaves
Sin Enslaves
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
Sin is a trap. It lures you in with momentary pleasure Hebrews 11:25
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
That momentary pleasure. feels good. It feels like its going to give us what we need. The problem is that soon as we take it we get hooked. And much like a lure it doesn’t let go rather it pulls us in deeper and deeper into sin.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus Sets us Free
Jesus Sets us Free
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Jesus is the only one who can forgive our sins and when he does, that freedom is forever. Look earlier in the chaper to really see this picture demonstrated.
Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
This lady was caught in her sin. The truth of her life exposed for all to see and it doomed her. Most of us feel this way. That if we confess our sins, and people know what we’ve done that we will be judged accordingly. The lady here knew that her sin if found out would lead to her death. She knew that this was the end.
I imagind her bent low weeping in her shame. Hearing the jeering crowds the accusations of the pharasees. She knew that Jesus was here and knew that whatever he said would spell her destiny. Waiting in anticipation.
The crowd watched in anticipation as Jesus bends down and writes in the dirt. (What does he write, no idea.) But then he stands as if making up his mind what to say. Theres a pause.
“Anyone without sin may cast the first stone.”
Pause… The crowd is silent…
*thud* as a rock hits the ground heads turn to see who threw it. They look to see where it hit her. ...
Shes still sitting there crying. The rock is on the ground as an older man turns away.
thud… Thud … thud... thud… thud
The crowd waits as the pharasees leave.
Jesus walks toward the woman bends down to her and asks where her accusers went.
Sniffiling she says how they all left.
Jesus, the only man who could justly throw a stone according to his earlier judgement, says that he doesn’t condemn her rather tells her to go and sin no more.
What a dramatic event, I also imagine her staying. Wanting to know more about this Jesus who just saved her life. She hears him say that whoever the son sets free is free indeed in v 36. And she thinks to herself — Thats me, he set me free.
We are all like this woman doomed in our sin, yet Jesus offers to set us free. but remember John 8:31-32
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
We must abide in his word for the truth(jesus) to set us free.