January 7, 2007
Background Scripture: John 8:31-59. Devotional Reading: John 14:23-31.

Many of the teachings of Jesus are about how we live our daily lives. He teaches us about forgiving those who sin against us, about being good stewards of God’s creation and about “walking the walk” instead of just “talking the talk.”

But Jesus also teaches us concepts that cannot be reduced to simple rules or even examples. In particular, the Gospel of John records some of these teachings.

Throughout his gospel, but especially in chapter 8, he deals with two conflicts: freedom vs. bondage and truth vs. untruth. At first glance, it would seem that these two conflicts are unrelated, but the deeper we delve into them, the more we find that they are linked together. In “Love and Marriage,” Sammy Kahn’s popular song of decades ago, he asserts that “love and marriage go together like the horse and carriage.” And, “you can’t have one without the other.”

Similarly, truth and freedom are also linked.

Are we not free?
The discourse begins when Jesus says “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Apparently, some of his listeners are affronted by this statement and they reply: “We are descendents of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will be made free’?” (8:31,32)

Actually, their response was not accurate because the Jews had experienced captivity in Egypt and later slavery to the Assyrians and Babylonians. In Jesus’ own day, while they were not slaves per se, they were a conquered people living under oppressive Roman rule. Apparently, they did not think of “freedom” in a political sense (their subjugation by Rome), but in terms of their status as sons of Abraham. Jesus, however, speaks of a different kind of slavery: “…everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” (8:34)

Just as the slave’s status in a house is tentative and temporary, so the sinner’s relationship with God is equally precarious. If they are slaves to sin, they cannot be sons of Abraham. Sonship is bestowed when we follow God’s Son. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (8:36)

Free indeed!
In speaking of being made “free indeed” Jesus implies that some forms of freedom are not free at all. So, we can assume that we are free and at the same time unknowingly enslaved to something or someone. The possibilities are virtually endless: alcohol, drugs, gambling, overeating, sexual promiscuity, prejudice, verbal and physical abuse, pride, materialism, and so forth. There are many different ways to be addictive and still assume that we are free to do as we like. Jesus said, If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did.” (8:39)

So, if we are really free, we will not live addictively. And if you want to be free to do as you please, you may not be free to live wisely and faithfully.

When Jesus later tells Pilate - and us - “For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth,” Pilate responds with: “What is truth?” (18:38)

Jesus gives us neither a philosophical nor a theological answer. Instead, he tells his disciples that truth is what we see of God in him and his life. The truth is not a system, nor a creed, but a person in whom God is as visible as we can see Him: Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

So, how free are you?

This farm news was published in the Jan. 3, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.