John 8:35-37 - True freedom

8:35

Now “son” is normally used of Jesus in John’s gospel, and we are referred to as “children of God”. So some take “the son remains forever” as referring to Jesus being permanently in the father’s house. This verse then contrasts the Jews with Jesus. The Jews (being the Jewish leaders) thought they were in charge of the house, that it belonged to them. But slaves are kept only for a time. They had a purpose, but the purpose under the Law was only temporary. If they persisted in their rejection of Jesus they would find that very soon they would no longer have a part in God’s plan. The Son, however, remains forever. Jesus is eternal and He is the One to whom people should look, not the religious leaders.

Today there are all sorts of people pontificating on various matters, contradicting what the Bible says. Whom should we believe? The pontificators who will not remain forever, or the Word that last forever? The answer should be obvious.

8:36

So if we look to the Son then we will be truly set free. Looking to the religious leaders would do nothing to set anybody free. Today there are all sorts of people claiming to be able to help people get free. A key issue these days is that of homosexuality, and there are many in the church who claim that we need to adopt a more accepting attitude of homosexual lifestyles and that by doing so people will be set free. This will do nothing to set anybody free. It is only be coming to Jesus, by making Him Lord of our lives that we will find freedom.

We need to beware of a false freedom. The Jews were proud of their heritage, and thought that their adherence to religious practices gave them freedom. It did not. If only they would believe in Jesus would they be free indeed.

8:37

The paucity of the Jews’ position was shown by the fact that they were trying to kill Jesus. If they were truly Abraham’s descendants then why were they trying to kill the Son of the God of Abraham?

The NIV says “because you have no room for my word”, the Greek is actually better translated “because my word finds no room in you”. The Jews were like the bad soil of the famous parable. It is a key question we all need to ask ourselves, does God’s word find a home in us?