John 8:31-38
The key words from today’s reading are: Continue. Know.
Free. If we continue in the word,
we will know the truth and we will be made free. In this particular passage from the Gospel of
John, Jesus is speaking to first century followers who immediately get all
riled up, letting him know in no uncertain terms that they are descendants of
Abraham and have never been slaves.
What is so funny about this is that they are celebrating the
Festival of Booths. Check out Chapter 7
– Jesus has gone to Jerusalem to be part of the event. During this time, the people recalled their
captivity in Egypt by living in booths, or tents of a sort, as a way of
re-enacting their exodus from captivity.
It was a way to share their history and recall God’s saving grace. In the midst of this commemoration of how God
freed them from slavery and brought them into a new land, they are insisting
that they have never been slaves. It’s
just a crazy assertion. But it seems to
reveal that their festival has become little more than a dead annual
tradition. They don’t even know why and
what they are celebrating. It
happens. We keep on doing the same old
things year after year and sometimes the meaning is drained away.
This is why Jesus says “if you continue.” We must keep
working and praying and learning and doing.
Because God’s Word is alive – Jesus is alive. We cannot just memorize a creed or a prayer
and stay locked in a tradition of our own making. We are called to be creative agents along
with God who is always making things new. Martin Luther awakened us to this
possibility in the Reformation. Luther translated the Bible into the common
language, he tore down the walls between laity and clergy, and he opened
people’s hearts and minds to the grace of God that breaks the curse of sin. God
is calling us into relationship to experience this gift of grace.
Then, from within this relationship with God, we are freed
to be in authentic relationship with our neighbor. In the knowing of one another, our humanity
is made whole, and we are able to banish prejudice, fear, envy, and
strife. We see ourselves and others as
children of God, without distinction, for all are slaves to sin and we all fall
short. Skin color, gender, social status, and all of those human barriers to
relationship, are broken down as we come to know one another in friendship and
love.
To continue means to go forth and engage in life. We move from the theoretical assuredness and
lifelessness of isolated existence into the glorious uncertainty and sacredness
of community. We find that Jesus was
speaking not just to first century followers.
Jesus is speaking to us right now. Let us listen and let us continue. So
that we may know the truth. So that
we may be free.
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