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Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If
you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have
never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "… everyone who commits sin is
a slave of sin. If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are
trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God …”
Have you ever had the experience of driving into a large,
unfamiliar city, trying to arrive at a particular destination? As you enter the
city, you have a general idea how to find your way, but soon you realize that
you are off the track. So you get out the street map to get specific
directions. This helps but again you are not getting there. You stop and ask
direction of passerby’s and you get a variety of conflicting direction which
only leaves you more focused. Clearly you are now lost.
In chapter eight of John’s gospel, from which the gospel
readings for yesterday and today are taken, Jesus is pointing out to his
listeners that the reason he has come into their world is to save them from
becoming lost. He knows they are lost, but he will lead them to the Father’s
house, for that is from where he has come, and he knows the way.
They claim they are following Abraham’s inspiration. Plus,
they have writings of the Law and the Prophets in their hands; as well they
have the Scribes and Pharisees giving them direction, insisting they are well
on their way. But they are lost.
Here are some texts for reflection:
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one
and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not
condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he
has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.…
John 5:36 - But I have testimony more substantial than
that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish--the
very works I am doing--testify about Me that the Father has sent Me. 37And the
Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His
voice nor seen His form, 38nor does His word abide in you, because you do not
believe the One He sent.
John 6:57 - Just as the living Father sent Me and I live
because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
John 10:37 - If I am not doing the works of My Father,
then do not believe Me. 38But if I am doing them, even though you do not
believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand
that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
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