Word to the Wise
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 5th Week of Lent - Wed
[Dan 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 and John 8:31-42]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." [John]
The discourse that follows the incident with the woman caught in adultery is presented to us in two parts today and tomorrow. It begins with those familiar words, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." As in much of the Gospel According to John, the audience initially misunderstands what Jesus means. They think he is talking about slavery in the social/institutional sense. He is speaking of faith in him, which sets us free from sin and darkness. The audience responds with the claim of being children of Abraham and not subject to human slavery. Jesus accuses them of being unfaithful to Abraham: 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; Abraham did not do this."
The question of TRUTH will reach its climactic point in Pilate's own question: "What is truth?" In the Gospel According to John, truth and faith come together in the person of Jesus Christ. Failure to believe leads to slavery to sin. Tomorrow, the audience will be confronted with a truth that is beyond them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be , I AM! " Stay tuned!
AMEN