Day 43: John 8 (part 2)- truth and freedom

​The Truth Will Set You Free
​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. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
You Are of Your Father the Devil39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Before Abraham Was, I Am48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
 
Meditation
 
Inscribed on one of the main buildings of the University of Texas campus are these words of Christ, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Christ is not given credit for the quote and the carving is a monument to the cultural longing for truth and freedom woven into the fabric of humanity. Jesus is the only way to find both truth and freedom.
 
Jesus says “If you abide in my word… you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (31-32).  This claim stands in direct contrast to the claims of our culture which claims freedom is found in rejecting authority, especially Scripture. Whose word do you believe, Christ’s or our culture?
 
The Bible calls rejecting God’s word “sin” and Jesus adds the title “slavery” (34-35). Jesus speaks a clear word- the idea of finding freedom in rejecting God’s word is a lie, coming from the devil who is the father of lies (44).  The culture abides in the authority of self as the world looks for freedom and truth. You need not live long to learn that when we reject God’s truth we do not find freedom in the authority of self or self-focus.
 
Jesus emphatically re-enforces the freedom He offers (36) as He explains true life comes from hearing and believing the Word of God (43, 51). When we believe, welcoming the authority of God’s word by abiding, the Holy Spirit will turn our heart of stone into a heart of flesh and write God’s word on our heart (Ezekiel 36:26; Jeremiah 31:33). The truth of freedom is found in Christ alone.
 
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you abide in the authority of the word of God or the authority of the word of our culture?
 
-The word “abide” means literally “to remain.” As you go through your day what does it look like for you to “remain” in God’s word during work, study, time with friends, family, and handling your finances?
 
-When the world is looking for freedom and truth it is Jesus they are looking for. You know people who need to know Jesus as they are looking for truth and freedom. Will you love someone today by telling them the truth, freedom is found in Christ alone?
 
Key Verse
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.”