Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 5th Week of Lent - Wed
[Dan 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 and John 8:31-42]"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." [John]
These words have been used by generations of Christians as an argument against lying! But Jesus is not speaking about lying or perjury here, Nor is he speaking about slavery in the sense that the audience immediately reacts to. They misunderstand (a common reaction in this gospel). Two important ideas are present here.
The first is "remaining" in Jesus' word. This has the sense of faith in what Jesus says as coming from the Father. One becomes identified with that word and with the one who speaks it. (The word, "remain," is one of the key words in the Gospel According to John.) The second idea is that if we "remain" in Jesus' word we are set free from slavery to unbelief and darkness. We will "know the truth," and the truth will set us free. One might "fast forward" to the scene of Jesus with Pilate in this gospel: "For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" The truth was standing in front of Pilate!
The dialogue in today's gospel scripture is part of the growing dramatic tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities as well as the "world." As believers we are drawn into this tension between the light of faith and the darkness of unbelief and sin. All of Holy Week is really about this. AMEN