Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 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’?Jesus answered them, “Most 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.” (John 8:31-36)
Have you ever noticed that sometimes people who try to act the most “free” are the most bound? Here, Jesus was confronting the Jewish leaders who were trusting in the fact that they were Abraham’s descendants. They thought they were free, but did not realize how bound they actually were.
Jesus goes on to confront their bondage to sin. He was not trying to make them feel shame or guilt. He was presenting the truth to them because He loved them. The truth is that God wants His children free! This is why there is so much freedom in surrender to Christ.
Yet, sometimes we can be exactly the same as these leaders if we are honest. I have asked myself the question, “With so much freedom found in Christ, why are there so many believers who are still so bound up?” with bondages of sin, addictions, fear, insecurity, timidity, fear of failure, shame, guilt… this list goes on.
At times the ways of thinking that have been handed down to us from the parents or grandparents hold us in bondage. Things we simply believe or take for granted as “normal.” Like the lady who cut the end off the ham, found out that her grandmother only did that because she had a small oven pan.
Sometimes the most seemingly inadvertent things affect us and keep us from God’s freedom. I read an interesting article about how modern space travel is being affected by the width of two Roman chariot horses. Essentially the Roman chariots made ruts in the roads and in order for other wagons to survive without breaking wheels or axles they had to be built to those same dimensions. This wheel width was handed down eventually affecting the tram axles which would eventually influence the modern railway wheel width. Tunnels were eventually built through mountains for these modern rail cars that carry parts for modern spacecraft. The pieces of space rockets had to be restricted in size to fit through those tunnels as they were shipped to the launch sight.
Like the case with these religious leaders in John 8, it was an encounter with the Word (Jesus) that confronted their bondage. It is only when we hear the truth of God that our own limitations and bondages are confronted. God wants His children free!
Heavenly Father, show me areas in my life where I may be walking in a form of bondage and I don’t even realize it. I desire the freedom that is available to me in Jesus. Lead me into Your freedom. In Jesus Name, Amen.
