Scripture: 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.”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would 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.” (NIV)
Observation:
Jesus said to those who were his followers, “…If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) But those in the crowd who had no room in their hearts for Jesus’ teaching argued with Jesus that because they were descendants of Abraham, they have never been slaves, so they would not need to be set free. Jesus was speaking to them about spiritual things of God, yet they could not comprehend as they had closed their minds to the truth.
Application:
Jesus is who he says he is, The Son of Man and the Son of God. His words are true, and we can follow him with confidence for Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life that we should be following.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to be open to your teaching, so that we might be set free of our sins and be free to follow you. Show us your ways and guide us by your Word and your Holy Spirit who is always with us. Convict us where we need correction and reconcile us to yourself, that we might be faithful followers of the living God. Amen.