Main point: The audiences were "believers," but when Jesus asked them to follow His teaching to be His true disciples v.31 they wanted to kill him v.37. Why this big change? Why were they so offended when Jesus pointed out that they were not free, but a slave to sin? Jesus said, " everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin v.34" In other words, they might practice sin, but they did not realize that they were slaves. Once we encounter sin there is no chance that sin will not master/control you.True disciples are those who follow Jesus' teaching, and practice the things Jesus taught us from the Father v.38. Note, practice the truth from a person, or doing the deeds a person would do reflect that you are a son of that person v.38--41.
Difficult verses: 8:35 The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever.8:36 So if the son sets you free, you will be really free.
Who is the salve/son in v.35? Is this related to the slave of sin v.34? If yes, then is the son the son of sin??
The genuine son in this context is not the Christian, but Christ himself (‘son’ is always used in John for Jesus Christ; believers are, ‘children of God’)... So if the Son sets you free—now not simply the son of the householder, but the Son of God, as that title is repeatedly used in this Gospel (cf. notes on 5:19ff.)—you will be free indeed. Jesus not only enjoys inalienable rights as the unique Son of God, but exercises full authority, vested in him by the Father (3:35), to liberate slaves. Those whom Jesus liberates from the tyranny of sin are really (ontōs) free (cf. Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:1). True freedom is not the liberty to do anything we please, but the liberty to do what we ought; and it is genuine liberty because doing what we ought now pleases us.
Reflection: 這些信耶穌的猶太人v. 31對耶穌說他們沒有自由, 有很大的反應, 他們不認為自己是什麼奴僕, 但耶穌指出從他們所行的, 就知道他們其實是罪的奴僕, 需要真自由. 他們不喜歡知道這個真相, 甚想要殺耶穌v. 37, 40. 他們為何有這麼大的反應?我想是他們自視過高, 從來沒有想過自己的行為是這麼差勁的, 但耶穌要的是真門徒. 我們想知道自己的真相嗎? 沒有勇氣面對真相, 就沒可能去找耶穌然後得著真自由. 我們有聽真話的勇氣嗎?
另一方面, 當我們信了耶穌之後,有否靠著耶穌, 得到真自由呢?還是我們還在罪中, 作罪的奴僕 (羅六）? 信主之後, 我們是否還是在罪中打滾? 重重複地犯罪呢?
Comments