25 February 2020
Text: John 8:21-38
In the name of +
Jesus. Amen.
Our
Lord’s words today are as relevant as ever. For Jesus speaks of “truth.” Our current culture is more concerned about
feelings. But in contrast to the world’s
desires, the truth is not what we want, what we hope for, or what the majority
of people say that it is. Truth is that
which is, that which is real. And truth
is objective. Truth transcends our
feelings. Our Lord makes no bones about
it: “If you abide in my Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.”
“The
truth will set you free.”
For
if you are beholden to a lie, you are enslaved by it. And Satan is the father of lies. Jesus came to tell the truth. And as the traditional oath given to legal
witnesses reads: Jesus came to tell the truth, “the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth.” There is also an old
saying: “the truth hurts.” Yes it does. For the truth is that we are poor, miserable
sinners. The truth is that we are mortal
because of our sin. The truth is that we
deserve to be cast into hell. The truth
is that we cannot save ourselves. The
truth is that we are indebted beyond that we can even hope to pay.
But
the truth is also that Jesus has come to pay our debt, and to set us free. “The truth will set you free.” And how are we to know this truth, dear
friends? Our Lord made it very clear: “If
you abide in My Word.”
Today,
most people don’t abide in His Word. Most
people refuse to believe that our Scriptures are true. And what’s more, many in our culture,
including those who are calling the shots in the world, do not believe there is
such a thing as objective truth. Pontius
Pilate hinted at this struggle for truth when He asked our Lord at His trial: “What
is truth?” Scripture does not record Him
giving an answer. For the answer was
right there before Pilate. It is
interesting that we invoke Pilate’s name every time we recite our creeds.
The
Word of God is true. It cannot lie. It never leads us astray. For it always leads us to Jesus. And it is Jesus, our incarnate God, who died
upon the cross and who rose again, atoning for sin, defeating the devil, and
conquering death – it is truly Jesus that makes us free! Amen.
In the name of the Father
and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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