Today’s lectionary has much meat within it. There is a discussion on obedience of authorities (Rom 13) juextaposed with the great kingly Psalm of repentence (Ps 13). I’m having to select.
And in this time I looking at the gospel. For Jesus now turns to those who believed in him, and cuts their assumptions from under them. (v. 32 states and many believed in him)
33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. 38I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.”
39They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”
Now, this is said to those who were beleiving in him, perhaps as a prophet, perhaps as the Messiah. I suspect that they considered that they had some worth, and that God (well Jesus) should be grateful they would support him, as if this was something for a vote.
But the concern that Jesus had was that they had among them liars, cheats, and those who would support his betrayal. Their genealogy did not matter. What they did now did.
I want to turn to part of the Roman’s text for a second, for here we have some advice about what to do. For the time for many is now short. The roll fo Martyrs is growing, by the hour, in Africa, in the Middle East, and in Asia.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
11Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
The storm is coming. Clear up our finances. Care for our brothers and sisters in the faith, and do good to those around us… and do not descend into intoxication and fornication, those comforting escapes from stress. Live instead for Christ, by the power of his spirit.