John 8:31-47 - Freedom or Bondage

In this passage and verbal exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders, there is so much wisdom and application. 

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Holding to Jesus' teachings, knowing the truth, the truth will set you free. Freedom or bondage, this is ultimately our choice, our Lord and Savior gives us this choice and ability to guide our steps and path. What is so sad, I am seeing it now with a friend, and I have seen it in my own life more than I would like to admit - it’s when we choose bondage. Yes, we choose it, we specifically opt-out of holding to Jesus teachings, we ignore the truth and listen to the lies and native language of our enemy. I have a dear friend, a man of God that loves the Lord, but right now, he is unable to clearly hear and hold to Jesus' teachings. He is stuck in his head, and Jesus' words and language are not clear to him right now. I am lifting him up in prayer, asking for Christ to break the bondage he is sitting in, and the life he is listening too. 

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”” - ‭‭John‬ ‭8:42-47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These are some heavy and harsh words from Jesus. All truth and these words are also pure love. I think too often we can read these words, or different encounters Jesus was in, and we can pull ourselves out of the story because we are “Christians.” But, these words must speak to us, or even as Christians, there are many times we are not following Jesus. Times when Jesus’ words and his language is not clear to us. When His truth is not what we hear; we are listening to the lies and the native language of our enemy. When we can not get out of our own heads, and start believing the lies. 

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭8:32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus came to set us free! 

Watching a dear friend being torn apart from the inside out by the lies of Satan is a horrific experience. But, I have the hope, faith, and belief that it’s never too late for repentance and for the freedom that comes from Christ to prevail. Freedom or bondage that is our choice...Jesus provides freedom, and we must choose to step in and believe the truth, not the lies. The truth will set us free.