January 9, 2015--Knowing Truth

 John 8:31-59

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 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’?” ³⁴Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. ³⁶So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

³⁷I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word.

³⁸I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.” ³⁹They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, ⁴⁰but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. ⁴¹You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” ⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. ⁴³Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. ⁴⁴You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

⁴⁶Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.” ⁴⁸The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” ⁴⁹Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the judge.

⁵¹Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” ⁵²The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?” ⁵⁴Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ ⁵⁵though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” ⁵⁹So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Most of the passage for today’s reading is not included in the lectionary we use on Sunday’s, so for some it may be a new reading. 
With the first read, what strikes you?  What are some of the things said by Jesus that make you go “Hmmmm?” 
What do you think Jesus means by saying “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 
Like the people of Jesus’ day, I am guessing most of us do not consider ourselves “slaves.”  We believe we are free, at least in theory.  Sometimes we hear people say I’m a slave to the stove, to my spouse, to…..  but generally I would guess we believe we are already free.  So the answer that the people give, “we have always been free” would be our answer as well, and then we would tune out.  But if you think about it, what are you a slave to?  What/who do you serve?  Your house? Property? Stuff?  Yourself?  Be honest!
The people claim that they are not illegitimate children because God is their Father.  However Jesus undermines that statement in verse 42. Reread verse 42. 

What are you proud of in your religious heritage?  Have you “been Lutheran since birth?”  Maybe a member of this congregation from the beginning, or your relatives were charter members?  Maybe you can recount how much you have done for the congregation/church and want to make sure everyone else knows it?  What do you take pride in?

Now, does whatever that is take precedence over your relationship with God?  Do you think you take priority over others because of what you have done?  What would Jesus say to that?

Let us pray:  Humbling God, you call us to follow in your word, to be faithful and to be free.  Yet we often rely on our own credentials.  Help us to learn, to follow where you lead, and find freedom in the truth that it is only in you that we are set free.  And when we are ready to throw stones, give us pause.  Amen