The Wednesday in the 5th Week of Lent
March 29, 2023
John 8:31-42
In this section of the Gospel of John, Jesus is talking with Jewish people who believe that his teachings and miracles show that he came from God. However, Jesus uncovers that their faith in him is not complete. The Jewish people believe that being descendants of Abraham, who had been a free man, means that they are also free. They know they are not slaves to some worldly king or dictator. However, Jesus says to them that they are slaves. They are slaves to sin, which is a spiritual concept that the Jewish people do not fully understand. Even modern day Christians sometimes miss the point of this message. Jesus explains to them that by having sin, it places a barrier between God and his people. The way to remove this barrier is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and through belief in him, they will be forgiven of their sins. Believing in Jesus means that you remain in his word, and to remain in his word means to hear, believe, and obey it. The word of Jesus is this: we are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory; he is the Savior of the world; and he alone grants forgiveness of our sins leading to eternal life. Jesus goes on to explain to the Jewish people (v. 28-32): “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me….If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Because of Jesus, we will be slaves to sin no more.
Brett Westhauser