Sunday School Lesson: Be Free!

Purpose: To clarify the freedom that Christ provides and to ponder why Christ’s freedom is often difficult for us to receive.

Scripture: John 8:31-59

What is a disciple?

What does it mean to be free?

The word “freedom” can be applied many ways. To a prisoner, freedom means release. To oppressed nations freedom may mean independence from a foreign power or from a military dictator. To the impoverished freedom may mean being released from a debt or from financial uncertainty. We fight wars for “freedom”. What exactly is it that we are fighting for? Teenagers want to be free from their parents. Workers want to be free from their bosses and their toils. Addicts want to be free from their habits. Some even imagine that freedom is freedom to sin.

Do we obtain “freedom” when we reach a state where we can do whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want, and with whomever we want?

Is freedom even a possible goal?

Well, it is possible, but not through the means that we normally associate with achieving it.

Another of the absolutes of the Gospel:

There is only one path to freedom. And that path is only available to disciples of Christ.

Some background to today’s scripture:

The events and words of Jesus as recorded in John 7 and 8 occurred during Jesus visit to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. Jesus had already met some opposition to His ministry and remained in Galilee for a while. Some of his followers persuaded Him to journey to Jerusalem for the feast (John 7:1-10). Even though Jesus knew that there were some in the Temple who wished to silence Him, that is exactly where He went. And He taught and shocked people with the power of his message. And yet some of those who listened believed (John 8:30). It was to those who believed that He continued with His Message in today’s scripture lesson. And his first lesson to the believers was what is required of a disciple:




John 8:31 NRSV
31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;


What is the distinction between belief and “true-belief”?

A disciple “continues” in the “word” of Jesus. Notice there are two key words in that phrase: “continue” and “word”.

What did Jesus mean when he said that disciples continue in His word?

Let’s look at the word continue. Synonyms for “continue” from Roget’s Thesaurus:


persist, abide, advance, carry forward, endure, extend, forge ahead, keep at, keep on, keep up, maintain, move ahead, never cease, persevere, persist, press on, stick to, sustain, uphold.

Definitions of continue:

1. To go on or keep on.
2. To last or endure.
3. To remain in a particular state or capacity.
4. To go on with or persist in.
5. To cause to last or endure; maintain or retain.

According to the Thayer Greek Dictionary of the Bible, the original Greek translated as “continue” is meno which means to “remain or abide, to be held, kept, continually”.

The second key word: “word”.

According to Thayer and Strongs the word used is logos, the same word that John used in chapter one to describe Jesus himself:

In the beginning was the Word(Logos), and the Word(Logos) was with God, and the Word(Logos) was God.

So again I ask: What did Jesus mean when he said that disciples meno in His logos?

The “word” is not just the words of Jesus, or His teachings, which we should certainly study and follow. It is that and much more.

I believe in Jesus. I was baptized and joined a church. Am I a disciple?

Maybe. If I was baptized and joined the church this morning.

I was baptized and joined the church years ago. Since then, I occasionally attend a service, may even drop something in the offering plate every once in a while. Am I a disciple?

Continuing in Jesus’ word is not just a matter of believing, or studying, or obeying. Abiding in the Word makes one a disciple. Being a disciple requires Jesus as the foundation for one’s life, living in Him and through Him. It begins with faith, but is not just an intellectual acknowledgment. To continue in His word is to abide there, to be at home in His teachings and have them be the guiding principles of one’s life. There must be a growing relationship, a growing discipleship.

A great debate has existed in the church from earliest times: the importance of works. Does Christianity consist of faith alone, or faith plus works? Are all “believers” saved, or are all disciples saved?

We are going to start a book this Wednesday night in our book study that is a classic study on this subject: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost Of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer dissolves the controversy with the insistence that faith is obedience and obedience is faith. The two are inseparable and we can definitely answer the question, “Who is a Disciple”? Jesus gives us the answer: “Those who abide, continue, persevere, and remain in His Word." It is not enough to make a mental commitment to the teachings of Christ without placing Him at the foundation of all that one does and living according to His will. Jesus told those who believed that there is a way to determine whether their belief was sincere and genuine. It was not enough to verbally state belief in Jesus (these “believers” at the Temple had done so, and we will see before we are finished with this Scripture the extent of their “belief”.) What really mattered was whether those claiming to believe were changed by His teachings. Christ changes us. Jesus did not come to earth just to offer us forgiveness and salvation. He came to change us. A person claiming belief but exhibiting no change in his life cannot and should not be called a disciple.

Discipleship is what Jesus wants in all believers. Our Great Commission tells us not to create “believers” but to create “disciples”.

What is the benefit of discipleship?

Freedom.

John 8:32 NRSV
32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

What is the truth?

The truth is not some knowledge that we can obtain. The truth is Jesus Himself. He was not just a teacher of truth; He was and is truth. Truth is not just a correct statement or idea. Truth is a person. Being a disciple is necessary in order to know truth and to be set free by it.

What is this freedom? What are disciples freed from?

Jesus frees us to follow God. He frees us from the consequences of sin and from the nature of sin. Jesus frees us to be all that God meant for us to be. An impossibility without Jesus.

Discipleship brings us four freedoms:

1. Freedom from fear. Disciples walk with the Savior of the world. Whom shall I fear?
2. Freedom from self. Many of us recognize that our greatest handicap is our own self. We would love to change, but realize the impossibility. But the power and presence of Christ can re-create us. We can be re-born into something altogether new.
3. Freedom from others. With disciples, there is only one opinion that matters.
4. Freedom from sin. Sin can and does take over our lives. Try as we will, we cannot seem to break free. Discipleship breaks the chains which bind us and enables us to be the persons we know we ought to be.

Whew! All that and only two verses in.....

John 8:33-36 NRSV

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.

How did these Jewish believers respond to Jesus’ offer of freedom?

"We have never been slaves..." Were these people in denial?

The Jewish people had been slaves in Egypt, captives in Assyria and Babylonia, had been ruled by seven different nations during the time of the Judges and were at the time of Jesus in servitude to Rome. What did they mean that they had never been slaves?

According to Jewish belief, even when physically enslaved, they considered God as their only Ruler and Lord. These people had developed a great attachment to liberty. When they stated that they had been no ones slaves, they were saying something which was a fundamental article of their creed of life. Even if it were true that there had been times when they were subject to other nations, even if it were true that at that very moment they were subject to Rome, it was also true that even in servitude they maintained an independence of spirit which meant that they may be slaves in body but never in soul. Despite their history, to suggest to the Jews that they might be slaves was an insult.

But Jesus was talking about a different kind of slavery. Which was?

Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Sin has a way of controlling our actions. When we confront the sin in our life, many times our response is, "Why can’t I just do what I want to do?" But if we are truly honest we can admit that sin is not what we really want to do. We are not doing what we like but what sin tells us to like. It is all too easy to allow a habit to get such a grip on us that we cannot break it, to take hold of us so completely that we can’t do without it. We can get to such a state that we both hate and love our sins at the same time. So far from "doing what I want to do" as a sinner I lose the ability to do "what I want. This is Jesus’ point. Sinners are slaves. Slaves to habits, indulgences, and pleasures. Sinners are never "free".

But freedom is available......

The Jewish believers had reminded Jesus of their lineage from Abraham, believing that through their genealogy, they were guaranteed a relationship with God.
Jesus then draws a contrast between Himself and Abraham:

John 8:37-41a
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."

Here Jesus introduces a theme that will grow in importance throughout this conversation: Who can rightly claim to be a descendant of Abraham? Who is these “believers” true father: Abraham, God, or the devil?

If they were the descendants of Abraham, they would live like it or act like it by honoring and loving Jesus. A true descendant of Abraham is the person who acts in the way in which Abraham acted. The same argument had been used by John the Baptist and would be used over and over by Paul. It was not flesh and blood which made someone a descendant of Abraham; it was moral quality and faith.

These believers did exactly the opposite of Abraham. Which was?

When a messenger from God came to Abraham, he welcomed him with eagerness and reverence (Gen 18). What were these so-called believers wanting to fo with God’s messenger?


They were trying to kill Him.

How could they dare call themselves descendants of Abraham when their conduct was so different?

Who does Jesus say that their true father is?

Jesus tells them that your true father is the one you imitate and obey. “You do the works of your father.” He has just told them that Abraham is not their father. Who is their father?

John 8:41b NRSV
They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.”

When faced with arguments to which we have no response we sometimes resort to ad hominem attacks. An ad hominem is when we appeal to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect or make an attack on an opponent's character rather than answer the contentions made. This is the first such attack in this passage and is believed to be a reference to knowledge that the Jews had that Mary was not married when Jesus was conceived and Jesus was thus an “illegitimate” child.


John 8:42-47 NRSV
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.”


Can you see how this exchange was escalating in tone?

In verse 44 Jesus point-blank let’s them know who their true spiritual father is.

Many times Jesus challenged his audience to test him. One of these tests occurs in verses 46 and 47. Just imagine:

Jesus: Which of you convicts me of sin?

Listeners: (lengthy silence) (the silence reveals their answer)

Jesus: By your silence, you admit that I tell the truth. Then why do you not accept what I say, that I am from God.

Listeners: (lengthy silence)

Jesus: If you belong to God you will listen to what God says. There can only be one reason that you do not listen: you do not belong to God.


Jesus ignored their personal attack and responded with logic and what was their response?

John 8:48-50 NRSV
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.

Ad hominem. You are a Samaritan and have a demon. When you can’t respond to the logic of a persons argument, what do you do?

You attack the person. Very childish. “You’re fat....and stupid.” “Oh, yeah, your mama is fat and stupid.” “I’m not illegitimate, but you are.” One of my favorites: Eddie Murphy: “You can’t get no ice cream. You can’t afford it. Your mama’s on welfare.” Politicians are pros at ad hominem. When faced with issues that they would rather not discuss logically they resort to: “My opponent is a liberal.” Or “My opponent is a conservative.” They might as well be saying, “My opponent is fat and stupid.” Logic proves arguments. Ad hominem arguments prove nothing and are totally irrelevant to the discussion.


John 8:51-59 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.

The center of the exchange between Jesus and his audience is revealed in verse 55. These who had earlier professed belief do not even know God. In this verse John used two different words for “know”. When Jesus says that the listeners did not “know” him, the word used was ginosko, which means to gain knowledge of something through personal experience. These Jewish believers claimed knowledge of God, but Jesus says that they had never really known Him.

When Jesus said, “but I know Him” the word used is Ido which means to have a certain and accurate knowledge. They had not even began to experience God, but Jesus knew God absolutely.

Jesus went on to make tow more statements of Truth. He said that if He said He did not know God, He would be a liar just like them. And He said that Abraham was aware of Him and had rejoiced over Jesus presence on earth.

Then in verse 58 Jesus made the boldest statement yet about His divine nature. The Jews would have immediately recognized Jesus claim. Which was?

Jesus claim here that He is God. I AM, the term God used in the Old Testament to proclaim His eternal existence. This was a claim on Jesus part that He was indeed the Yahweh of the Old Testament.

What was the conclusion that the Jews came to about Jesus’ claim of deity?

Their response was to pick up stones in order to stone Him to death for blasphemy.

What is the only conclusions that we can come to today about Jesus’ claim to deity?

As C. S. Lewis put it:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

This entire lesson is about truth. What is it? How do we recognize it? How do we respond to it?
What does it demand of us?

Wherever and whenever Jesus made a claim about Himself, it created a crisis. People were forced to make a choice, either for Him or against Him. One thing was clear: there is no middle ground. In the six lessons this quarter, we have been looking at important truths regarding Jesus. Every lesson has pointed to the same reality: He is truly God and truly man in one person.

The world does not love truth. Many would rather pick up stones to fight than welcome the stranger or love the enemy or invite a sinner to dinner or pray for those who do evil. Regardless of the world’s response, those who follow Jesus choose Truth. Disciples are alive and free and eternal.