Day 16 - Free Indeed | February Devotional in the Gospel of John
John 8:31, Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 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’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
A standard is: “Something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model, example, or point of reference.” Jesus established a new standard in His time for all time: Those who abide in His teaching are His disciples, who are made free by the truth of God they know/learn.
Some of those who heard pushed back against what Jesus said, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone.” Jesus made the case of relationship with God. They made the case of privilege because of family lineage. If someone asks me why I live for Christ, my answer should not be, “Well, my grandfather was a pastor, my father is a Bible teacher, and my mother wrote Gospel songs.”
We cannot successfully argue against Jesus’ standard. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8). The people who thought they were not in bondage because they were descendants of Abraham, ignored their own sinful lifestyles. There is self-deception associated with self-righteousness. But if the Son makes you free, you will be genuinely free.
Reflection Question: Are there any habits or religious traditions standing in the way of knowing and living out Jesus' truth?
Action Item:
