10282020 – John 8. 31-36
All this talk of “slavery” and of “being a slave” does not go over well today…
It’s time has more than come…we have all these twenty-first-century sensitivities…to deal with…
It’s awkward, it really is…
In this rather “sometimes” – “enlightened age of ours,” language can easily become “offensive” and can be “ofttimes misunderstood.”
There are certain “words,” certain “images” that are just not appropriate today…
Words that were common, well understood, are now hurtful and divisive.
In some situations, it is like walking on egg-shells, and you dance around the elephant sitting in the middle of the room.
You fear a little…
And you tread lightly…
Call us “snowflakes” but that seems to be where we are today.
Hurt no one.
Offend no one.
Cause no harm.
But the reality is, that Jesus talked about slaves and slavery and he used it as a metaphor…
And, I for one, am not going to ignore that he did, or try to discount those words…
They need to be understood and placed in their historical context.
Guys, ever hear of a metaphor?
It is a metaphor, already.
Calm down.
A metaphor is “a figure of speech” in which … “a word or a phrase” is applied to “an object or to an action” to which it is not literally applicable…
So Jesus linked together slavery and sin. His metaphor was almost lost on his listeners…
And guess what, THEY too, TOOK immediate OFFENSE.
I bet even Jesus, did not see that one coming…
“WE ARE NOT SLAVES TO ANYONE,” they all but shouted!
I do not want to put words into Jesus’ mouth or tell him WHAT he should have said in response…
But did they look around…
Did they see all the Roman soldiers everywhere?
Do they understand all the taxes imposed on them by the imperial forces…
Yep, they are under siege alright…
They are the pawns of the Roman Government…like it or not…
Jesus was forced to explain further that anyone who sins is a slave to sin.
That was his intention, all along.
Don’t get your undies in a bundle…
Not an actual “slave” per see…
But rather, almost enslaved by sinning and sinning and sinning some more.
It is almost cyclical. Once you sin, it becomes easier to sin again.
You are caught! You get caught up in it…
Hooked on sinning…
And sometimes, as we all know, one sin leads to another, leads to another, leads to another…
It is just icky…that…way…
And he was trying to say that “being a slave to sin” makes it difficult or hard to be forgiven.
A slave doesn’t have his or her own room in “the big house,” but the master’s son has a room there.
If the master’s son frees these slaves, they will ALWAYS be free…FOREVER FREE
Behold, “the awesome power of a metaphor.”
His point all along, of course, was if the SON makes you free – you will be free indeed.
But this is John’s Gospel.
Forget the slaveowners son.
God is not a slave owner…the metaphor kind of falls a part at that point.
But Jesus is the son.
He is the son of the Father.
He is the son of the living God.
(Whether his listeners and hearers knew this or not!)
And if the Son
Read, Jesus,
Sets you free…then you will be free indeed.
This Jesus, this rabbi from Nazareth in Galilee, this backwoods preacher, healer, and miracle worker…this teacher with the strange ways about himself…
IF he makes you Free. Take it to the bank. Or, take it with you to the Pearly Gates. If the Son sets you free- you will be free indeed. FORGIVEN. SAVED. REDEEMED…and welcomed into eternal life. Amen.