John 8:31-36 (NRSV)
Read John 8:31-36 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; Verse 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Verse 33They 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'?" Verse 34Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. Verse 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. Verse 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Devotion
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."
Prayer
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.