FREE INDEED!

 

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

 

FREE INDEED!

 

John 8:32-36

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

          The word “free” here is the Greek word aleutheros and it means “to go at one’s pleasure; to be exempt from obligation or liability.” The Romans had conquered Israel and held it in an iron grip. Puppet rulers were put in place and taxes were demanded. Yet those who claimed to be Abraham’s seed felt no constraint. They did not know they were in bondage.

         

          Under Roman rule freedom was possible in only two ways. It could be purchased at a great price. The image is a slave bidding on himself and buying himself at auction. The other was the birth right of those who were free born. Paul mentions this.

 

Acts 22:28

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

 

 

          Jesus provides us with both kinds of freedom. He purchases us and adopts us. We have been freed at a great price and we are also children of freedom. If the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed.

 

Lord, may our great nation understand, receive, and implement the great freedoms available only in Jesus. AMEN