They 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”?’
Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’
They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does.’ They said to him, ‘We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose 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 according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.’ John 8:33-47
It's important in these turbulent times, when truth and freedom seem so challenged, and Christian leaders use scripture to justify outright lies, abuse and discrimination. We can turn and judge them harshly and fall into the same dangerous behavior. It is hard to love and have compassion for those who abuse their authority. It is so hard to watch innocent adults and children be snatched, abused and killed. The world needs us to speak up with love and compassion despite our deep desire to judge, retaliate and mock. We are called to be those who live in truth, who share our freedom with others, and love those we might be uncomfortable around, affording them the same rights we have, the same freedoms that make us free indeed.
Loving Creator, the author of all living being
you send us a stream water, living and free
so we might share your love with others.
We too often keep your blessings to ourselves
thinking by birthright we can hoard freedom
and judge others who are different from us.
Lord, help us dive deep into your living stream
so we might be covered with your grace and truth
and share love and freedom with everyone today. Amen.
