John 8:30-32 Freedom for the prisoners
Even as he spoke, many believed in him. 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 8:30-32 NIV
This and what follows is one of the most bizarre interactions in the Gospels where men believe in Jesus’ and then become adversaries in record time. What is so laughable or maybe even sad is the finicky nature of our proud hearts. His very confident and reassuring claims and the witness of the Holy Spirit combined to persuade some of his listeners that he was really the one, the Messiah — and they believed. Yet, a few verses later they were again outraged with him. The seed fell on the ground and it was received. Just like the rocky ground in the parable, so was the depth of heart in the Pharisees who freshly believed. Jesus made a profound statement, “You will be free!” With as much promise as it held, it also held a test. Will you cling to your dogma, your unmoving belief system, or will you open your heart to a different approach — my Father’s approach? Jesus claimed he spoke what the Father gave him, then these words were calculated to do exactly the thing they represented — bring freedom! But they also exposed a point of deception among the people—they precisely challenged a nationalistic pride that this promise was unable to penetrate. From the ABC’s of Heaven’s believing handbook, if such a book existed, step one would be to identify the elephant in the room.
When the farmer prepares the soil, rocks are removed, land tilled, and capacity created. Obstructions must be cleared for the seed to grow and flourish. Similarly, following Jesus and growing in Kingdom grace means not just having a moment of faith, but a lifestyle of unobstructed listening and believing. When the plow hits a rock, naturally the rock wants to stay put. If the field were a person, I could hear it asking, “What’s wrong with the rock here? I’m very comfortable with this rock.” In other words, this is the way I am — I’m OK with obstacles to freedom — because they are more familiar and comfortable to me. In reality, when I respond with attitudes and beliefs that qualify more as obstacles, I resist, or at least the rocky part of me does. If my value is to love God first with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, then my gift to my Him is to allow him to plow the field and remove those rocks — without offense. It is a choice I make daily. I want to listen. His word is truth and truth brings freedom. And the freedom he brings is often from me and that which I am comfortable with.
Why, right out of the gate, would Jesus create friction with these new believers and confront them this way? Because there was a rock of slavery that was firmly embedded in their lives. This obstacle would hijack and sabotage their faith quickly. At some point in the future either the rock or their faith would have to leave. Unless he dealt with it now, they would stumble in their faith. This challenge, when taken in perspective, was both inevitable and a reflection of the Father’s love. Just like it’s painful for a sliver to be removed, I am much better when it is.
When I look at this transaction at face value then fast forward to today, the first thing I experience in my new birth after his incredible love is freedom. Chains falling off. Burdens lifted. Freedom is clearly a defining benefit of the kingdom and begins in my belief system. If I believe I am bound, I am. But if God sets me free, what man may bind me? Sure, physically and outwardly I may still experience some measure of tyranny, but true freedom is knowing the love and power of the Kingdom. After the first exhilarating taste of freedom, further freedom comes in degrees through the transformation of my mind, like a child growing into an adult. I understand that in a very real sense the promises of the kingdom are fully mine now, even if my ability to experience them is delayed — like a teen with a driver’s permit, or a pilot in training. But knowing how to drive a car, fly the jetliner, or operate on a patient come with training and experience. There are always two parts to freedom: the actual physical release and the grasping of it in my heart and mind—and those two are rarely aligned. He’s removing the stones of bondage thinking, renewing my mind and making me into a delightful child. But the overarching, big picture in this process is—as he says in this verse— “you are really my disciples.” I belong to him. I hear him. I am a son, just like he is a son. I am also an heir, a co-heir with Jesus to ALL things that belong to God. (I’m amazed at how muted my understanding is when I write that. But it’s true!)
Freedom. I’ve been born to be free. To hear and follow his voice. To become the very character He expresses over me in a word: “Loved.”
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
1 John 3:1-2 (NASB)
Postscript: History does not need to repeat itself
Freedom is not exchanging one prison cell for another. There was a Jewish system at the time of Christ that was rotten. The Baptist said the ax was already laid to the root of the tree (Israel) — meaning, the time for Israel as a nation was about to end. But incredibly, most at the time tolerated it knowing “salvation comes from the Jews,” as Jesus said. Yet, they all felt the literal and very real tension that they were not truly free. Today there is a Christian system that seems eerily similar. Won’t we learn our lesson from history? There is a simple joy in being children of God, the sheep of His pasture. Yet today, like then, I see many in a prison of legalism and rule-following because salvation to many believers is not free — we MUST do something for it, to protect it— at least that is what religious leaders say then and now. When our freedoms become just as exhausting today as it was to Jews then—there are so many man-made obligations that we do not even recognize—then we must be honest, we are not free.
Here’s a test, let me ask: Do you have the permission to choose what you believe? Do you have permission to have your own position on being “pro-life” or “pro-choice?” (It seems like an absurd question because we believe the answer is black and white — but it stands—may you be different?) Do you have the permission to come to your own conclusion about those who are LGBTQ, and may you live at peace without changing anyone, including those making our laws? Are you convinced that our nation, or any nation must be redeemed and you are required to do something about it? Today there are political spirits ravaging believers and a resulting inner turmoil and angst being stirred up. It is not the Spirit of Christ. The freedoms God gives are not so that we replace one political view for another, but to free you from them all. Since when did the church become an organized political power rather than the means for individuals to enjoy and celebrate their faith and power in God? If we review history, it does not end well when this happens. The key is this: when our faith becomes dependent on the message of self-proclaimed rulers proclaiming to each of us how to think or believe rather than on our newborn, redeemed spirits being nurtured to hear and respond to the sweet and powerful voice of God. Of course our faith is not born in a vacuum, we need spiritual mentors — but the voice is God’s, not man’s. Men say, for example, in order to be part of the church I must… [fill in the blank]. It often includes: go to church, tithe, read the Bible, have a pastor with authority over my life, and overall to get with the program (which was never mine to begin with, it belonged to someone else). The doctrine of being “under cover” or under authority should lead us to one — Jesus. That’s it. When did we exchange the freedom we have in God for such things? Like the Jewish religious leaders sought to commandeer the individual’s faith and sabotage real and God-given freedom, the same still occurs today.
Today, I see many of my believing friends burdened with the obligation to “fight, work out, defend, stand up for” a victory that has already been given to us as a gift. If you do not feel free, fear-less, or joyful or experiencing the absolute delight and freedom of being a child of God, most likely your truths need refining. Fear is not overcome it by simply ignoring or rebuking it. Reclaiming joy isn’t an exercise in willfulness or luck. These are indicators that something is off. Listen to them. Freedom is absolute and if I am not experiencing it, embrace and accept the fact— but listen. Consider options. Possibilities. And hear the voice of the Holy Spirit who guides His own into all truth.