Salvation Depicted
Today’s reading: John 7:45-9:12
My selection: John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
My reflections: Salvation in Jesus Christ is described in John’s gospel with several poignant analogies: water, light, bread, sight, and, here, freedom. Spiritual slavery, unlike political or physical slavery, is imperceptible to the natural man (that is, man with only his human faculties unaided by the grace of God). The Jews, who heard Jesus refer to it, were not aware of their enslaved condition (8:33).
Without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in a person, he will not be aware that he is enslaved by sin nor will he be aware that there is any hope of spiritual freedom. After all, one of Satan’s deceptions is to keep people blind but thinking they can see. Blindness is the new 20-20 vision (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Jesus came to make the Father known. He came so that those who believe in Him and abide in His word would be free (8:31-32).
My challenge: Have you known what it is to thirst? To grope in the darkness of this world? To hunger? To be blind? To be enslaved? Have you found in Christ water, light, bread, sight, and freedom? John wrote his gospel in order that you may “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
If you have not found this in Jesus Christ, call upon Him for mercy and grace and faith to see your real condition and to believe in Him. If you have found life in Christ, walk today as a true disciple, abiding in His word.
Tomorrow’s reading: John 9:13-11:16