Freedom!

John 8:31-32,34-36 NKJV

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free." [34] Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. [35] And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a Son abides forever. [36] Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

In Braveheart, Mel Gibson, playing William Wallace, famously yells "Freedom!" as he is being executed.

It is such a stirring scene - a primeval scream that resonates within the heart of each one of us, doesn't it?

We all yearn to be free - free speech - free movement - free from petty rules and regulations - free to live our lives without government interference.

Jesus speaks of a far greater freedom, a freedom that only He can give, a freedom He purchased with His own Life on the Cross.

Freedom from our own nefarious nature, now that's a real freedom.

Somehow we're born chained to our falleness - what did David say:

Psalm 51:5 NKJV

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

There's no escaping the fact that we are slaves to our own sinful natures. Only when the Light of Christ shines on us do we see the chains that bind us!

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee."

There's no freedom like the freedom Jesus gives.

Like Paul, believers in the Lord Jesus who are in chains, are still gloriously free. Free from the fear of death and divine wrath. Free to love, free to forgive, free to pray, free to really live and free to die.

It's all because Jesus sets the heart of us free!

Hallelujah!