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“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:36, LSB

Two things we must think about in this discourse of Jesus – He declares Himself the Son of God and He sets His chosen free from the slavery of sin. We can neither free ourselves from sin nor can we declare ourselves children of God. This is an act of our Lord and Savior. The most difficult thing for us is to admit our bondage or slavery to sin. If we deny this reality, from what can our Lord set us free? The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day struggled with this reality and the same stands true today. It takes humility for us to realize our bondage and that we cannot break ourselves free. We like to think we are in control until we find we are not. This reality strikes us often in times of crisis. In a moment, we come to realize that there is little we can do. For those who hear these words, it brings about absolute submission or denial. We cannot deny that Jesus is the Son of God. We cannot deny our need for forgiveness. Both are there at the ready and in submission we are received into the comforting embrace of our Lord. In a moment, we are declared forgiven. We are free. We are not free to willfully sin. Will we sin? Yes. Again, we lay our sin down and are set free as we are adopted into the family of God and it is in His arms we find our peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.