Freedom in the King

April 24, 2022 Background Scripture: John 8:31 - 38 Lesson Passage: John 8:31 - 38 As a teenager, I recall being frustrated with some of the "rules of the house" that seemed appropriate for children but not for older youth. Many of us were restless as we entered those latter teen years while growing up at home. The one word that captured the essence of what we sought was "freedom". We wanted to feel free to explore life beyond the house. We had lots of unanswered questions. What is it like staying out to 2:00am, or 3:00am in the morning? What about those clubs for 18-year-olds and older—but they would let you slip in if you were 16? What about some of those alcoholic drinks? They must be tasty since people can't get enough of them. We learned within a few years that the freedom we desired was very different than the imagination of a teenager. There is a great responsibility that comes along with freedom, Teenagers are not prepared to be responsible young adults. As young adults with more bills than income, we longed for the true freedom of our parents' home. The desire for freedom is not quenched through experiences, whether they are good or bad. We just develop a healthy sense of the type of freedom that is appropriate for us. We don't get to go back and relive our youth. Life does not work in reverse. We apply lessons from the past and we refine our goals. As an adult, there is still a yearning for freedom. But we have refined our quest and we are careful as to where we seek freedom. This is the reason these eight verses that make up our lesson today are so important. For those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, we have found the source of real freedom. Jesus clarifies for us the inward drive to seek freedom. We know intuitively that something has us in a state of bondage. As teenagers we thought it was the rules of the house that made us feel that way. As young adults we thought it was the lack of a sufficient amount of money that was the problem. As we mature in life, we move from one vain pursuit of freedom to another. Our slave master, sin, keeps us bound internally. Neither the absence of household rules nor an abundance of money is the answer to our quest. Our internal bondage needs an inward liberation that cannot be achieved through anything external. Thus, the Jews' response to Jesus about freedom only addressed the outer person. Jesus quickly corrected their shortsightedness. Jesus explained that their bondage was the result of sin within them. The sin that is part of human flesh controls the actions and agenda of all that are enslaved. We should remember that many desires that teenagers have for freedom involve activities that are immoral and sinful. That's because of the slave master who is setting the agenda. The internal bondage drives the desire for freedom. Jesus pointed out to His Jewish followers that their desire to kill Him was evidence of what He was saying to them. Sin was provoking them to do sinful things. Jesus told them the importance of continuing to follow His words as His students. Jesus was teaching them how to experience freedom even in the presence of sin. Jesus was around sin all the time, but He was never controlled or enslaved by it. He was teaching His Jewish followers the same thing. If they continued to heed His teachings, they would be His true disciples, or students. The truth embodied in Jesus' teachings would break the chains of sin's bondage. After those chains are broken, they would find true freedom in the King. Robert C. Hudson April 9, 2022