"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 27 October 2016 with Scripture with Scripture John 8:31-36
John 8:31 So Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted him, “If you obey what I say, then you are really my talmidim, 32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered, “We are the seed of Avraham and have never been slaves to anyone; so what do you mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now a slave does not remain with a family forever, but a son does remain with it forever. 36 So if the Son frees you, you will really be free![Complete Jewish Bible]
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"You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." With what recklessness the rabbi uses words of which you and I are wary! "The truth" he says--not a truth, not truth in general, but the truth. The night of his arrest he is even more specific: "I am the way, the truth and the life." Who else would dare such a claim?
Throughout the gospels Jesus identifies himself in other equally reckless ways: I am the light of the world, the bread of life, your peace, your hope, your rest. Who can take such claims, such recklessness, seriously? Only those who hear these words as well, words spoken by the same man, put to death at our wish and by our hands, yet raised from the dead by the very hand of God: "Peace be with you! Your sins are forgiven. Now come, follow me--into freedom, into life."
We pray for your Holy Spirit, dear God, that our ears may be open to hear the savior and our hearts and minds open to trust him and take him at his word. In his name. Amen.
Bradley Edin, '84
Pastor, Kathryn-Nome-Fingal Lutheran Parish, Fingal, N.D.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.
36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.[New Revised Standard Version]
Throughout the gospels Jesus identifies himself in other equally reckless ways: I am the light of the world, the bread of life, your peace, your hope, your rest. Who can take such claims, such recklessness, seriously? Only those who hear these words as well, words spoken by the same man, put to death at our wish and by our hands, yet raised from the dead by the very hand of God: "Peace be with you! Your sins are forgiven. Now come, follow me--into freedom, into life."
We pray for your Holy Spirit, dear God, that our ears may be open to hear the savior and our hearts and minds open to trust him and take him at his word. In his name. Amen.
Bradley Edin, '84
Pastor, Kathryn-Nome-Fingal Lutheran Parish, Fingal, N.D.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.
36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.[New Revised Standard Version]
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