Free Indeed
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:33-36)
Some people are good at lying to others, but often the most damaging lies are the ones we tell ourselves. The ability to lie to ourselves is real – and has a frightening power. Here, Jesus offered real freedom to the Jewish religious leaders, freedom found in Jesus Himself. But the religious leaders answered back to Jesus and insisted that they had never been in bondage. They claimed to be free and had always been free but apparently, they forgot about their bondage under the Egyptians, Persians, Syrians, and the Romans. This shows us that people can be in bondage and lie to themselves about it.
But far worse than their slavery to foreign governments in their past was their present slavery to sin. Slavery to sin is the worst kind of bondage, because there is no escape from ourselves. You can’t go to a new place and escape slavery to sin, because wherever you go, you take yourself with you! The only escape is to be set free by the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Here Jesus made a contrast between freedom in name only and the real freedom He offers in Himself. Some people talk about freedom and know something about freedom as an idea, but for them freedom is only a word – not a fact.
Years ago, an elderly Christian woman from Hong Kong told of her life in mainland China but she still used much of the vocabulary of the Communists. The Communists called their oppressive revolution “the liberation.” Once she was asked, “When you were back in China, were you free to gather together with other Christians to worship?” “Oh no,” she answered. “Since the liberation no one is permitted to gather together for Christian services.” “But surely you were able to get together in small groups and discuss the Christian faith?” “No, we were not,” the woman replied. “Since the liberation all such meetings are forbidden.” “Were you free to read the Bible?” “Since the liberation, no one is free to read the Bible.” That isn’t much of a liberation!
The point is clear: freedom does not consist in the word “freedom,” or in mere words, but a relationship to Jesus Christ, through abiding in His word. When Jesus sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Is freedom from sin real in your life or are you in bondage? Today, draw close to Jesus, because He can set you free. You can’t set yourself free. A government can’t set you free from sin. A program can’t set you free.
Only Jesus makes us free indeed.
Click here for David’s commentary on John 8