Slave or Free?
Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. To the Jews who had believed in 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.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” John 8:30-36
It is the Feast of Tabernacles and Jesus is teaching in the Temple. Many of His listeners have begun to follow Him.
‘To the Jews who had believed in him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”’ To be true disciples they must hold to His word (literally: ‘remain in my word’). The core of discipleship is remaining in Jesus’ word. This will show outwardly by obedience to His teaching (14:15,21,23,24; 15:10; 17:6). These believers would have needed the encouragement to continue in His word because there were many present who rejected it and would urge them to reject it too.
Jesus promised that if they remained in His word, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” This didn’t go down well, ‘They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”’ Had His listeners forgotten that the foundation of their national life and faith was not just Abraham, but the Exodus that took place after their slavery in Egypt? Jesus went straight to the heart of the problem. There is a worse slavery than the one suffered in Egypt or the semi-slavery they were suffering under the rule of Rome. This slavery grips not only individuals but groups, nations and families of nations. It is slavery to sin.
‘Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”’ When people rebel against God in whatever way, new forces are called into being, cumulative effects build up, and individuals and societies alike become enslaved just as surely as if every single one of them wore chains and was hounded to work every day by a strong man with a whip.
“Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.” The slave who “has no permanent place in the family” is the “slave to sin.” Jesus is the son who “belongs to (the family) forever.” His longing was for His listeners to be genuinely set free from their slavery to sin and come into God’s family as full sons and daughters. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Only faith in Jesus, believing that His death was in our place, as He took our sin upon Himself, can set us free. Without this faith we are slaves of sin and “a slave has no permanent place in the family.” If you have this kind of faith in Jesus then Jesus has set you free.
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