What is freedom? All of my life I've heard these stories and passionate definitions about what freedom is - they all involve broken shackles, or liberated women and children, or incredible restorations of free choice....you get the idea.
But what if true freedom isn't an absence of constraint at all, but rather a submission to the proper authority? What if true freedom requires direction and structure? No one in their right minds would call living in a state of anarchy freedom. And yet, anarchy really is the extreme form of what most people think of when they think of freedom - everyone accountable only to themselves, never having to give an account for anything that they do.
Similarly, most people would not call a rebel, who lives his whole life outside of the laws and restrictions of society, free. On the contrary, actually, he has become enslaved by the very "freedom" he is working so hard to gain. Ask any ex-smoker, and he will never say that the liberty he expressed to smoke his first pack of cigarettes made him a freer man. Instead, the habit that once relaxed him has now trapped him...he is never more than a few minutes away from needing a smoke.
Jesus, referring to Himself, said that "We shall know the Truth, and the Truth will set us free." So, that begs the question...is Christ free? Could it be that He is the structure, the direction that we so desperately need? Is it possible that He is the "proper authority," the one who gives definition to our free-formed lives, the one who's leadership can guide us to freedom in submission? Are you brave enough to take the leap of faith and find out?
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?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b]”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
But what if true freedom isn't an absence of constraint at all, but rather a submission to the proper authority? What if true freedom requires direction and structure? No one in their right minds would call living in a state of anarchy freedom. And yet, anarchy really is the extreme form of what most people think of when they think of freedom - everyone accountable only to themselves, never having to give an account for anything that they do.
Similarly, most people would not call a rebel, who lives his whole life outside of the laws and restrictions of society, free. On the contrary, actually, he has become enslaved by the very "freedom" he is working so hard to gain. Ask any ex-smoker, and he will never say that the liberty he expressed to smoke his first pack of cigarettes made him a freer man. Instead, the habit that once relaxed him has now trapped him...he is never more than a few minutes away from needing a smoke.
Jesus, referring to Himself, said that "We shall know the Truth, and the Truth will set us free." So, that begs the question...is Christ free? Could it be that He is the structure, the direction that we so desperately need? Is it possible that He is the "proper authority," the one who gives definition to our free-formed lives, the one who's leadership can guide us to freedom in submission? Are you brave enough to take the leap of faith and find out?
John 8:31-47
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 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?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b]”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
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