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The truth is the truth. It is neither arbitrary nor relative. The origin of truth is grounded in the One who is the truth. Jesus—the Son of Man and Son of God—was and is the truth personified. This was made clear at the beginning of John’s Gospel and in the Lord’s own words (John 1:1, 14; 14:6).
Humanity’s natural inclination is to reframe the truth to fit what we (humanity) want to believe.
Many who hold to a post-modern mindset say morality and truth are relative. In other words, an individual may hold one view of right and wrong and what is true, while another person holds an opposing or somewhat different view. But each view is considered valid or true to that person.
In psychological terms, this could be considered a state of denial. For example, when a person says something like, “I believe 2 + 2 = 5,” they are denying accepted and basic arithmetic.
When this same attitude or mindset carries over to beliefs and values, it leads a person to deny or reject what everyone else may hold as true. This is common with people caught up in alcohol or drug abuse or people with personality disorders.
We see this attitude in the Jewish leaders in this long dialog with Jesus in John Chapter 8. Here, they make the claim, “we’ve never been anyone’s slaves.” But this contradicts Israel’s history and their present situation as an occupied nation in subjection to the Roman Empire’s government.
Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery under Egypt’s Pharaoh. Israel went through several cycles of slavery and oppression and needed God‘s help to escape their bondage through various judges who led them to freedom. This took place over a period of about 340 years.
Because Israel was not faithful to the covenant between them and God, they were taken captive for 70 years by the Babylonian Empire for not giving the land its sabbath rest.
But here, Jesus is speaking of a different kind of slavery that plagues all humanity.
Scripture
As Jesus was saying this, many people believed in him. So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They replied to Jesus, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?” [vss 30-33]
Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin. A slave doesn’t live in the home forever, but a son does. So if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free. I know that you’re Abraham’s descendants. However, you want to kill me because you don’t like what I’m saying. What I’m saying is what I have seen in my Father’s presence. But you do what you’ve heard from your father.” [vss 34-38]
The Jews replied to Jesus, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus told them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did. I am a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. But now you want to kill me. Abraham wouldn’t have done that. You’re doing what your father does.” [vss 39-41a]
(John 8:30-41 GW)
Key phrase—
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Digging Deeper...
Review the Scriptures above as you answer the following questions
What does Jesus say to the Jews who believe in Him?
What are the two specific assurances Jesus gives to them?
How do the Jews respond to what Jesus says?
How does Jesus rephrase and explain what He means by slavery?
Reflection...
When Jesus rephrases what He says about slavery and freedom, He speaks of the difference between a slave and a son. Jesus speaks of slavery as a bondage to sin. So, freedom is known in relationship with God and contrasted with a lack of this relationship as the effect of sin.
When we are in a right relationship with God by faith because of God’s grace, we become children of God. As we live by faith following Jesus and living in the light of the truth, we gain freedom from sin.
Jesus describes this life of faith lived in the light of the truth as His disciples. The theological term for this is sanctification—the progressive work of God’s Spirit and truth transforming our life, which results in freedom from sin’s hold on our lives.
What is most important is our relationship with God by faith. Jesus refers to God as His Father while the Jews claim Abraham as their father. But Jesus confronts the Jews about their claim as Abraham’s descendants.
Since they are seeking to kill Jesus, they aren’t acting as true descendants of Abraham who was known as the friend of God because of his faith (James 2:23). Jesus tells them they have another father whom He describes in the next segment of this dialog and story.
The important question each of us needs to answer is whether or not we have a personal relationship with God by faith. This determines our relationship and perception of the truth and sin.
Do you understand how sin—giving in to your selfish nature in defiance of God—puts you in slavery to sin?
Do you understand the freedom from sin you (all of us) gain when we live by faith?
Taking it to heart...
Read through the Scripture text again as you consider and answer these questions
What do the Jews claim about themselves as the descendants of Abraham?
How does Jesus counter what they say about themselves and Abraham?
What does Jesus say about the Jews' relationship with Abraham and God because of their attitude and feelings towards Jesus?
Do your life and words sometimes contradict what you say you believe?
How do you handle it when you are confronted or convicted by the truth of God?
Personalize it...
Meditate On This— Our relationship with God has everything to do with how we view Jesus, the truth, and sin. When we have a personal relationship with God by putting our faith and trust in Jesus, we are assured of God’s forgiveness and that we can gain freedom from bondage to sin.
Prayer Focus— When you find yourself in conflict with the truth of God, humble yourself before Him in prayer and ask the Lord to help you see things in the light of faith and the truth. When you struggle with any type of sin, continue to go to the Lord for help to be set free from it and move forward in that freedom by faith.
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