JOHN 8:31-39a A GOOD DEFENSE IS A BAD STRATEGY

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.’”

39a “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

Even those who believed in Jesus did not focus on Jesus! Jesus tells them what they need to do and they answer Jesus with who they think they are. Ostensibly they have agreed to his statements that he is the “light of the world,” the “light of life,” he is “sent” by the Father, he is “from above,” and the father “has not left [him] alone” (8:12-29). Then in verse 30, St. John reports, “Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.” Those are the very ones Jesus is addressing in this passage. It seems like a simple thing to hold to Jesus’ teaching if you buy what he has said about himself. He has already warned them about dying in their sin (v.21). Yet when he offers them freedom from their sin, their pride gets the best of them and they claim Abraham as their father.

We all claim to know that we are sinners and have no problem with that general concept. But when it comes to the specifics of living are we really willing to accept that judgment? Is not the first response, at least internally, to bristle at the idea that someone would call you a sinner, or classify your action or attitude as sin? What do you mean? I go to church. I read my Bible. I believe in Jesus. I am a good person. All those things may or may not be true, but they are not relevant to the assessment being made.

When we get defensive, we should take warning that we are missing an opportunity for Jesus to work in our lives. Although no one likes to be criticized, the mature disciple sees criticism as a tool that can help straighten out our thinking and our life. Simply put, an unrecognized sin is an unrepented sin which in turn is an unforgiven sin. When it comes to following Jesus and overcoming sin, we need all the help we can get. We do not have the luxury of becoming defensive and thus denying an opportunity to acknowledge and repent of our ways…no matter the source of the challenge.

Protect me, Lord, from the arrogance of thinking too highly of myself and denying my need for redemption. Grow me into a mature Christian who can hear criticism and recognize the sin in my life and the need for repentance. Let me not rest on my past, my affiliations, even my baptism. Keep me ever vigilant in searching out the sin in my life and ever grateful to those who point it out. Amen.