The lectionary reading yesterday was from John 8. It’s an absolutely bananas passage, but this part really stuck out to me:<\/p>\n
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, \u201cIf you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\u201d<\/p>\n
They answered Him, \u201cWe are Abraham\u2019s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, \u2018You will be made free\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jesus answered them, \u201cMost 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.<\/p>\n
-John 8:31-36 (NKJV)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
“We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone!” the Jews listening to Jesus argue. But could this statement be more ridiculous? Only a few generations after Abraham they were literally slaves in Egypt for 400 years.\u00a0 In more recent memory they were quite literally slaves in Babylon for ~70 years. And right then, as they are speaking, they are essentially non-citizens in an occupied territory of Rome. They aren’t slaves proper, but a pretty far cry from “free”. They obviously knew all that too, but insisted on the liberty talk.<\/p>\n
I imagine people today saying, “We’re Americans! We have never been in bondage to anyone!” (bald eagle screeches overhead). And Jesus responding with “uhhhhhhh, not exactly”.<\/p>\n
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The lectionary reading yesterday was from John 8. It’s an absolutely bananas passage, but this part really stuck out to me: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, \u201cIf you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\u201d They … <\/p>\n