From David Guyor
It all came back to me, maybe only for a moment or two, but at least it came! It felt like the crisp, refreshing winds that sweep down the western foothills and catch you off guard. My kids love it when the winds come like this, laughing, spreading their arms like wings and literally leaning into the strong gusts to feel them lifting them and pushing them back with their power.
To read The Gospel of John Chapter 8 means you are dropped into the middle of Jesus, (if I may say so), at his best. The power and hope and courage of this man’s life are so appealing that, like many times before, crowds of people are moving in close to hear this man teach (“Who is this guy, anyways?” many must be wondering.) And John notes that Jesus even arrived at the temple at dawn, so I’m thinking, “Not bad! A crowd of people that early in the morning? Something must be going on.”
The Pharisees (a little booing and hissing at this point would be appropriate) bring a woman to Jesus who had been “caught in adultery.” Hmm? How convenient. Wonder how that happened.
Let’s put it bluntly. This is a set up. These guys are snakes. They are not giving up until they have either shut Jesus down “by trapping him” to discredit him, or if they have to, shut Jesus down quite literally, by having him killed.
But, Jesus, true to his amazing heart of strength, love, and brilliance, throws their plot back at them, so “that those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.”
And if you can, imagine the emotional depth and impact when Jesus asks the woman “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? … Then neither do I.”
And, the rest of the chapter keeps getting better, but it’s long and, really, you are just going have to read it for yourself. It’s amazing. The tension just keeps building, like it does in the great stories you love.
So, here’s where I’m going. Here’s the climax of the chapter. Here’s the “refreshing wind” that blows throughout this lively tale of a day in the life of Jesus and continues to blow throughout the greatest story that will ever, ever be. Jesus declares:
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!”
This is the outrageous offer of Jesus. The offer’s thatgood. It’s so good it’s practically a dare! And He not only offers it, He IS it. Read John 8, and feel the life and strength and freedom of the Son of God’s heart. He is free indeed.
Get with someone you love and talk about the questions below. They could be helpful, fun, and maybe even risky.
Where are you experiencing being free in your life?
Where in your life would you love to be free?
What do you need in order to be free?
What do you want to be free to do?
What in your life do you need to be free from?
