Freedom and Bondage
This is the reflection that was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. I would appreciate your thoughts and comments.
Gospel: John 8:31-36
31Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Bondage is a problem all over our world: financial bondage, the bondage of refugees, bondage to sickness, bondage to grief and sadness and bondage to sin, death and the power of the devil as Martin Luther tells us in The Small Catechism. Sometimes we may feel like we are walking around enslaved to sadness like clouds all around us, much like Pigpen in the Peanuts comic strip who had clouds of dust all around
I am not suggesting God’s word to be an answer book for all of our ills, a deepened relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ makes a huge difference. We may still struggle with financial issues, grief or illness but the difference is we are not alone. The Lord is with us in this.
True freedom is found in Christ and the truth of the gospel. Jesus said that his truth makes us free. At the end of this passage Jesus declares, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (v. 36).
We struggle to let go, especially as Americans. We are so fiercely independent. We value those who are self-made men or women. And yet, this pride is something Jesus calls us to let go of.
What do you think? Will we let go of living life by our own efforts? It’s not easy, but we will find a delightful peace in our lives, a true freedom, like none other if we do so.
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Gospel: John 8:31-36
31Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
True freedom is found in Christ and the truth of the gospel. Jesus said that his truth makes us free. At the end of this passage Jesus declares, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (v. 36).
We struggle to let go, especially as Americans. We are so fiercely independent. We value those who are self-made men or women. And yet, this pride is something Jesus calls us to let go of.
What do you think? Will we let go of living life by our own efforts? It’s not easy, but we will find a delightful peace in our lives, a true freedom, like none other if we do so.
Picture
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