Devotions - Wednesday, April 23

In John 8:31 Jesus says, "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free."

One must always be careful not to too quickly jump on particular words in an English translation of the Bible. It is best to consult the Greek - and I need to acknowledge that my Greek isn't strong enough to know what word is translated into English as "free." Having said that, I do want to lift up Jesus' choice of a word to express what it is that he does for us. He makes us free.

We might be, in our "heaven is my home" mindset, tempted to say that he means we are "free from our fear of death." We might quickly assume that he is referring to the freedom we have over our graves. He might be.

Or he might be expressing something grander than the events likely to follow the cessation of blood flowing through our veins. He might be telling us that his presence and his Word brings the liberty we need to live life now. His promise to us is that we are not bound, not bound by death or anything else which would hold us captive.

I was in a conversation yesterday with a student. We were discussing how often Christianity and Church become the haven for those seeking to abide by a code of conduct demanding enough to merit eternal rewards. I was encouraging Church participation as a way of making friends and finding mentors. "But that seems selfish to me." was the reply. "They aren't going to like it if I show up and say, 'I'm here because if don't want to be alone.'"

I think this is exactly what Jesus would have us do. I believe that for Jesus eternal relationships are the bonus we discover at the end of a life lived happily among those who have been set free. I believe that Jesus was concerned, not simply with our eternal life but with our life now. I believe Jesus meant it when he said that what he brings us is freedom. He wants us to be free. Free to love and to be loved. Free to do and to say. Free to see ourselves as the lovable children we are - in the eyes of God. The Church of Jesus Christ is the Church which makes it possible for us to live our lives free.