13. Truth

John 8:31–32 “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:43 “Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to my word.”

1. Hook (2 min)

Good morning! I have a question. What does the word "Thai" mean?

(Let them call out "Free!")

Yes! Free! Thailand is the land of the free. Raise your hand if you are proud that Thailand was never colonized, never ruled by another country.

(Most hands go up.)

2. Rope Handcuffs (3–4 min)

(Tie A's rope loosely around both wrists. Before tying B's second wrist, pass B's rope over A's rope so the ropes are linked. Keep the loops loose.)

Okay, you two are now prisoners! You have one minute to get free. Rules: no untying the knots, and no slipping your hands out. And no pulling hard. Ready? Go!

(Let the crowd cheer and laugh. Count down the last 10 seconds together.)

Time! Are they free? No! They worked hard. They tried everything. But they are still stuck. Do you want to know the secret?

(Show the solution: take the middle of B's rope, push it as a loop under the rope around A's wrist, going from the elbow side toward the hand. Pull the loop over A's hand, then pull it back out. They're free.)

FREE! Give them a big clap!

Here's my question. Did they need to try harder?

No. This is what Jesus is trying to say. You can try and try, but without knowing the secret, without knowing the truth you are stuck.

They needed to know the truth, the secret. When they knew the truth, they were free.

3. Stay. Know. Free. (4 min)

Jesus said something about this. Listen. John chapter 8, verses 31 and 32:

"If you stay in my words, you are really my followers. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Now, the people listening to Jesus did not like this. In verse 33 they said, "We are Abraham's family. We have never been slaves to anyone!"

Hmm. Does that sound familiar? (Smile and let them laugh.) They were proud, like we are proud of Thailand.

But Jesus was not talking about an army. In verse 34 he said, "Everyone who does wrong things is a slave to wrong things."

Think about it.

Lying.

Anger.

Being jealous.

Playing on your phone until 2 a.m. (Pause for laughs.)

You want to stop, but you can't. You want to get rid of that pit feeling, The more you try to get free by yourself, the more tangled you get, just like our volunteers.

But Jesus knows the way out. Verse 36: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." That means really free.

Everyone wants to be free. Jesus says freedom doesn't come from trying harder alone. It comes from knowing the truth.

Stay! Know! Free!

4. Headphones (3 min)

I need one more volunteer.

(Volunteer puts on headphones with loud music playing, at a safe volume. Speak in a normal voice.)

Okay, please touch your nose. (Confused look.) Turn around. Wave to this side of the room.

(The crowd can hear you and laughs. The volunteer can't.)

Take them off. Did you hear me? No? Everyone else heard me! Was my voice too quiet? No. His ears were already full of other noise.

Jesus said this in verse 43: "Why don't you understand what I say? Because you are not able to hear my words."

Jesus' words are not too hard. But sometimes our hearts are already too full of noise to listen.

Quick question. Raise your hand if your phone is the loudest voice in your life. (Let them laugh, and raise your own hand too.)

To stay in Jesus' words, we have to turn the noise down sometimes and listen.