Whoa! Jesus is something else!

The group had just finished reading John 8:31-58. The Zombie was getting familiar with how to move through the Bible. Jesus is the main character of the story, and the Zombie had never seen anybody like him.

Jesus was like a freedom fighter, but he used words rather than weapons. He didn’t seem to have the same kind of physical intensity like the characters in Fortnite or Call of Duty, the ego centered bluster of politicians, or the smooth charisma of celebrities. But he didn’t pull any punches either. He was straight up intense. Strong but not overwhelming. He spoke clearly and directly, but always allowed room for others to respond.

In this part of the story Jesus was saying stuff that was really pissing people off. And these weren’t like his enemies, the story is clear that it was “those who had believed in him” that he was lighting up.

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

What does that mean, “If you abide….?” That’s another odd word. It seemed to mean something like “pay attention” or “take seriously.” Or maybe something more.

“The truth will set you free.” Huh. He was already free, he thought. His dad wasn’t around. His mom was too busy to pay much attention, as long as he kept under the radar. He could do whatever he wanted. Again, as long as he didn’t get caught.

The guys started talking about things that made everyone a little uncomfortable. Everybody does those things, but it’s not something we’re proud of. It’s not something we choose to do, necessarily but our desire is drawn to it. We are free to do it, after all, but are we free not to do it? As long as our parents don’t find out we’re cool right? He didn’t think his mom would like that he was doing those kinds of things. He felt a twinge of guilt, but he never really dwelt on it.

Then they began talking about the shame of getting caught. They all expressed doing these things, but they weren’t happy about it. It’s not something you want to win an award for, after all. Can you imagine getting caught? For the first time he began to wrestle with the reality of his situation.

The conversation turned to the idea that while they were free to do it, they weren’t free not to do it. The urge moved them to go there, as if for that moment it was the most important thing to do…no matter what. That’s just weird. Something like that shouldn’t matter that much. But it really kind of did when the desire hit you. Yeah, he got it. He was free to do it, but he wasn’t free not to do it. That began to eat at him. Why should that be so? That didn’t seem right, but it was true. In what other areas of his life did he experience that same kind of, (what’s the word?) bondage.

Lots of times he found himself getting angry at his mom when she would say something to him. He realized most of the time she wasn’t being bossy or demanding. Sometimes she just needed help with something or just wanted to connect with him. He would find himself striking out at her, like a snake. Why did he do that? It wasn’t something he wanted to do, it just seemed to happen.

He really didn’t like when his friends would poke at other kids. Tear at some weakness, or something. Call ‘em out. Laugh at ‘em. Why would he go along with it? It made him feel good in some sick way. Part of the in-crowd. Powerful. A Master of the Universe. He thought about those kids. What would it be like to picked on like that? He felt bad about that. But he always joined in. What’s up with that? More bondage.

He wasn’t as free as he thought he was.

“…you will know the truth…” How about that? Jesus seemed to be talking to him. He was getting in touch with something that was true, something that was true about himself, something he did not like very well. Maybe he wasn’t as free as he thought he was.

The story in John began to get intense. The crowd began to get angry at Jesus. They rejected the idea that they weren’t free. They got mad at Jesus for suggesting that they might be enslaved to stuff.

Then Jesus hits it, straight up: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. “ (John 8:34) A slave to sin? The Zombie thought. Is that what’s going on?

He didn’t like that idea at all. He wasn’t a slave to anyone! Wait a minute. That’s exactly what the crowd told Jesus, “We have never been enslaved to anyone!” (John 8:33)

The Zombie stopped cold in his reflections. The guys continued talking about stuff, but the Zombie wasn’t paying attention. “Am I a slave to sin?” He thought.

He began to get really uncomfortable. He wasn’t exactly feeling guilt. More like shame. He didn’t want to think that he was a slave, unable to do whatever he wanted to do. But the truth is, there were lots of things he found himself doing that he really didn’t want to be doing, but he knew he was powerless to stop it. At least on his own.

What was Jesus saying here? “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) What does it mean to abide? What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Can we really be free?

The Zombie was waking up to the truth about himself. And he didn’t like it. He thought he was free, but he was really a slave. That had to change.