By: Xh. Sean Yang
Bible Passage: John 8:31-36
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 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’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Summary
It’s the 4th of July week and America is celebrating Independence Day. This holiday is a day we celebrate how free we are in the U.S.! However, this freedom we think we have doesn’t really seem to be true freedom. Let’s look around: Bitter partisanship and anger and bitterness, is this true freedom? The constant struggle to have more money and materialistic possession, is that true freedom? The fear of death that leads people to spend whatever possible just to stay alive just a little longer, is that what freedom is about? Pride over sin parading through the streets, is this the freedom we want? Here’s something we need to understand: You can live in the U.S. and still not be free.
At least that’s what Jesus says. The Jews of his day were proud of their freedom too, just as you and I are to be Americans. They said, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.” Sounds very American, doesn’t it? Let’s listen to Jesus’ response: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” Those Jews were wrong about freedom. The real master in our world isn’t a foreign country, it is sin. “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” Would you agree? When greed takes over our hearts and controls our lives, we are not free. When bitterness fills our minds and guides our tongues, we are not free. When alcohol or lust control our bodies, we are not free. “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”
Reflect
Here’s something to think about. We think that the more we can do what we want, the freer we are. Many people say: “It’s a free country, so I can do whatever I want!” Do you know where that thought started? It was in the Garden of Eden. With a snake. “If you do what you want, if you eat this fruit, then you will be free, then you will have the knowledge of good and evil. The more you get to do what you want, the freer you are!” What is the truth? Having the freedom to do whatever I want makes me even more a slave to sin.
In the U.S., we are free to drink as much as we want. Free to commit adultery as much as we want. Free to hoard as much money and materialistic possessions as we want. Free to hate and despise and boast as much as we want. But remember, you can be free and still not be free. The more you get what you want, the more a slave you are. “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”
Do you want to be really free? Listen to Jesus: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Getting your way is not genuine freedom, at least not in Jesus’ eyes. Freedom doesn’t come from a country or a political party. It comes from the truth. “The truth will set you free.” The devil’s lie is that freedom is doing what you want. The truth is that real freedom is trusting in what Jesus did for you. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Pray
Lord, thank you for your love and mercy which you give to us freely. Though we live in a country that gives us a lot of freedom, we are not yet truly free. Please open our eyes to your liberating truth — to yourself — and powerfully grant us to be set free from our bondage to sin. Let those who want to believe in your truth believe strongly and hold firm faithfully. For those who waver, please let our Lord Jesus Christ’s words affirm them. Knowing that the truth will always set those who believe in the truth free. In Jesus’s name, Amen.