Hope for Today

Some people who claim to be the wisest and the smartest never make up their minds on the subject of religion. They think it is a mark of intelligence to suspend judgment on such a vital subject. Now why should we be so slow to make up our minds on the most important part of our lives, the religious. When it comes to other areas, like food, those same people who are so slow to make up their minds on religion quickly make up their minds.

As human beings we are made to reach conclusions. We cannot live with our judgments in suspense indefinitely. To be undecided is a very difficult position to hold. While our thought processes should be active, they should lead us to a position, to a conclusion, and not just all the time say, “I don’t know.”

One of the marks of an intelligent person is his ability to state his conclusions on a subject, even though those conclusions may need to be modified when more truth is available. We ought to become concerned about REACHING CONCLUSIONS. Let us think about that with John 9:35-41 as a basis.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

We had better put together our thought patterns so that we can reach proper conclusions. From this text I purpose to show two MANDATES which you will need to follow in order to reach satisfying conclusions.

The first Mandate you must:

Answer the Most Important Question.

What is it? What is the most important question? Is it, “Who am I?” Well, that is an important question, but is that the most important question? Or is it, “Why am I here?” That, too, is an important question, but is it the most important question? Or is it “Where am I going?” Now that also is a very important question. But none of these is the most important question.

The most important question is the one that Jesus asked this blind man. It is this, “Do you believe on the Son of God?” This is the most important question you can ask, and I am asking that question now. Now don’t turn me off. Hear me through. This is the most important question anybody can ask you.

This question you must answer. Just as the man in our story in the Bible needed to answer. He could not come to a satisfying conclusion until he said, “Lord, I believe.” He first asked, “Who is he.” And when he learned who He was, he said, “Lord, I believe.” Now, do you believe on the Son of God? You cannot indefinitely hold your judgment in suspense. I ask you that question now and you must answer it sometime.

The second Mandate you must:

Trust the Most Certain Cure.

What is it? Well, men say today you must put yourself out front. You must say, “I am number one.” No, but that is not a cure. In fact, that may be a disease. They tell me you must say to yourself, “I am self-sufficient; I will make it.” No, no, my friend, that sounds like the devil. The prophet Isaiah in chapter 14 of his book tells us that Lucifer, son of the morning, said just exactly that, “I will be like the most High.” No, that is not the most certain cure.”

What is it? What is the most certain cure? Accept healing for your blindness. Notice how Jesus replied to these Pharisees when they said to Him, “Are we blind also?” He said, “If you were blind you would have no sin, but now you say, we see; therefore your sin remains.”

I get a tremendous truth out of that statement from Jesus. I get this: you had better admit, my friend, that you cannot see. Then Jesus can give you sight. He can help you see. There is a blindness much worse than physical blindness, much worse than this man who was born blind. That blindness is spiritual. When people are deliberately blind they will not see the truth. That, my friend, is awful. That is a blindness that will curse you. But Jesus said if they were blind then it would be possible for them to see. But since they say they are not blind they are hopeless and blind.

Now it’s very simple, very simple. Come to Jesus for healing. That is the most certain cure. There is no other cure as effective as this one. I am especially talking about the kind of blindness that Jesus addressed Himself to when He was talking to these Pharisees, a blindness of the mind. Not a blindness of the eye, but a blindness of the mind.

To reach the really satisfying conclusion these two mandates or requirements must be met. Answer the most important question. What is it? Do you believe on the Son of God? Trust in the most certain cure that He can give you sight.

Sometimes we are puzzled to know what is the most important thing in life. At such times we need help. Where do you turn for help? I turn to God’s Word. Here is a helpful verse for times like that: “I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2.

To know how to choose the best in life is our problem. One time Mrs. Yoder and I were visiting a shop to buy a Persian rug. We had no idea of the value of Persian rugs. When the shop keeper told us what the price was, we couldn’t buy one. It was too costly. The price was more than we could afford. So we had to leave the Persian rugs. They were beautiful but we could not afford to buy even one.

In life we must take care to measure the values by which we live. Some are too costly. For some the price is too high. For some the price is much too cheap. Are there any ways of MEASURING VALUES in life properly? Yes, there are. We shall see what happens here in John 9:13-23.

13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

In this conversation I find several helpful PROCESSES by which values can be measured, for we must measure the values of life. Let’s look at these processes.

Process number one:

Seek a Clarification.

Don’t be satisfied with just a report. Go right to the source and find out what happened. That’s what these people did. They tried to find out clearly what had taken place. This blind man had been healed by a miracle that Jesus had performed. Jesus had put clay salve on his eyes and had sent him to the pool of Siloam to wash.

So, they came to find out, to get a clarification, and they asked the man. He told them exactly what happened. He said, “He put clay upon my eyes and I washed and I see.” Just as simple as that. No great enlargement, no complex way. Just a very simple answer of exactly what happened.

But do you know that some of these people came to the wrong conclusion? They concluded that since the miracle was performed on the Sabbath day, that whoever performed it could not possibly be a man of God. He must be a sinner. But the man who was healed said that surely a sinner could not do miracles like this.

Well, let’s see. It was not really the man who was healed this time. It was others who were standing around who said a sinner cannot do miracles like this.

To measure the values of life it is appropriate and important to seek for the clarification of the problem. Make sure you understand exactly.

Let’s take Process number two:

Stress the Verification.

Gather more facts. Talk to other people who know. So these people called the parents. Now they certainly should have known. If he was their son then they would know whether or not he had been born blind and surely they ought to know how he received his sight. So they called them in and asked, “Is this your son?” They said, “Yes, this is our son. He was born blind.” But then they went on to say, “We do not know how he received his sight and we do not know who healed him.”

Well, they said part of the truth, but they would not tell all they knew. We are going to see why they wouldn’t. But I have to admire these people for trying to get all the facts together. That is a very important process. Don’t be satisfied until you have all the facts brought together.

To measure values you must stress the verification, make sure that all the facts have been well verified.

The third Process:

Face the Excommunication.

Let me warn you, don’t be afraid. You read in this text that these parents would not tell everything they knew because they were afraid. They had been threatened with excommunication; that means to be put out of the synagogue. If anybody confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, they had already agreed among themselves that such a person could not have fellowship in the synagogue.

That was a very serious threat. But don’t be afraid. If you are going to really come out on the side of truth, then you must measure values and not be scared. Don’t close your mind to the truth. Don’t draw conclusions before the evidence is in.

Be sure that you verify everything, but do not be afraid if someone threatens you. To measure values you must face the threats of excommunication, the threats of others. I suppose these parents were afraid. Therefore they had their problem and could not really come to the measuring of values. They put the wrong weight or the wrong value on the wrong side.

Measuring values in life properly will require these processes: seek a clarification, ask to know; stress the verification, make certain of the facts; face the excommunication, stand on the side of the truth. Don’t draw any conclusion before the evidence is in.

“Why?” is an important question. It gets to the central issue. It is, we may say, the basic question. Why leads us to the reasons for whatever exists. Many never bother to ask why. They keep doing the same things without even thinking. Just going through the routine day after day without any bother to ask why.

Now, my friend, we are not a machine to do only one thing one way. God has given us minds with which we can think. We have the right, therefore, to establish the reasons for our actions. We can change if we want to and there are reasons to change. Of course, just to change for the sake of change isn’t really very smart. But we are not machines. We can make changes and we can think over the reasons why we do what we do.

From a very interesting experience in the life of Jesus in John 9:1-12, we learn about ESTABLISHING REASONS.

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man who was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

From this text we learn to follow the INSTRUCTIONS which will help us to establish reasons for what we do.

The first Instruction:

Examine the Problem.

This was indeed a very critical problem, for the man was born blind. The disciples asked a right question. They said, “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” That’s what I meant by saying a why question is a very basic one. It is hidden in their question. Why is this man like he is? Who sinned? Somebody must have sinned, they thought.

They reasoned that any problem like a disease or a handicap was indeed the result of somebody’s sin. But Jesus corrected that. While they were examining the problem He answered, “Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents.”

He gave them a correction. This is a situation where the glory of God is going to be manifest. He answered them to help them understand exactly what the problem was. But they had a right to examine the problem and that’s the instruction I’m bringing to you. First of all, to establish the reasons examine the problem.

Then Jesus went on with a directed acknowledgment. He said, “I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day because the night comes when nobody can work.” Do what is yours to do when you ought to do it.

So here we have instruction number one: examine the problem that is before you when you are ready to establish the reasons.

The second Instruction:

Accept the Prescription.

Here was a man born blind. How was he to be made whole? How was he to receive his sight? We are told that Jesus spit on the ground and of the spital He made clay salve and put it on the eyes of the blind man.

We do not know if there was any medicine in that clay or in that saliva. We are not sure about that. However, Jesus went about it in a very simple way. It was not complex at all. After He had anointed, or put the salve on the man’s eyes, He gave him a very simple command: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” He went and washed. Very simple obedience. He went his way and washed and came seeing.

We do not have any explanation as to how this man got to the pool of Siloam. Perhaps someone led him. But he did not doubt that the prescription Jesus gave him would indeed make him well. So he went, he washed, he came seeing. He had no hesitancy to do what he was told. He did exactly what Jesus told him to do.

Say, to establish your reason you had better accept what Jesus says.

The third Instruction:

Study the Puzzle.

When he came back seeing, the people who knew him, the neighbors and friends, first doubted that this was indeed the man who had been blind. So they tried to get his identification. They talked among themselves. They said, “Is not this he who was sitting and begging?” And some of them said, “Yes, this is the same man.” But others said, “No, no this is not the blind man. This is another like him.” But he said, “I am he.” And then they asked him how he received his sight.

Again, you see, they were studying the puzzle. They did not know exactly what the situation was but they were trying to arrive at the reasons for what had happened.

Listen to the explanation: he said, “A man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed and I received my sight.” Now that should be simple enough for anybody. The answer was clear. It was no longer a puzzle because the man had answered the question.

Here then we have the instructions we must follow if we would establish the reasons for our actions: examine the problem; accept the prescription; and study the puzzle. Be sure you come out at the right answer like this man did.

Christians over all the world believe that Jesus is different from all other people. He is supreme. There are certain others who look to Jesus as a great teacher, as an outstanding reformer, as a prophet ranking with Moses. But Christians go farther in their belief. They believe Jesus is much more. They believe He is the Son of God. They believe He is supreme. They do so on the basis of the records in the Bible.

In certain cases, His own words tell us this in the books of the New Testament called the Gospels. The arguments for His supreme position are established on the reliability of the record. Is the Gospel record true? Yes, my friend, it is true. I want you to read with me from John 8:48-59 and listen to the words of Jesus as He was talking with these people near Him.

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

In this text we must acknowledge He made certain special CLAIMS that set Him apart from all others. Why is Jesus supreme? He is supreme upon the basis of several claims.

The first Claim:

His Claim to Have Power Over Death.

His own people brought an accusation against Him. They said, “You are a Samaritan.” That was a mean thing to say in those days. They said, “You have a demon.” That also was a mean thing to say because that meant that He was deranged; He was mentally incompetent; He couldn’t think straight anymore. That was the accusation they brought against Him.

But Jesus refuted what they said by saying, “I honour my Father, God; you dishonour me, but God honours me; I seek not mine own glory but the glory of Him who sent me.”

And He made an affirmation. Did you notice as you read? He said, “If a man keeps my saying, he shall never see death.” His sayings will liberate those who keep them from death, eternal death. In other words, Jesus is supreme because He claims to have power over death. Doesn’t that strike you as something special? Something different? Nobody else could make that claim. Of course not.

The second Claim:

His Claim to Have Direct Contact With God.

This claim sets Him apart as being Supreme. His accusers said, “Now we know that you have a demon.” This was confirmation in their hearts. They said Abraham is dead; the prophets are dead; everybody dies. How can He say that if one keeps His saying he shall not taste death? Is He greater than Abraham? They said, “Now we are sure that you must have a demon.”

But then Jesus gave a different presentation. He said, “My Father honours me and you claim that He is your God. You have never known Him, really. I know Him in ways that you do not know Him. I have direct contact with God.”

The Bible says in another place about Jesus that He is the only one who has ever seen God face to face. He was in the bosom of the Father before He became flesh and dwelt among us. That sets Him off as being supreme, because He has direct contact with God. That was His claim and it was correct.

The third claim which Jesus made:

His Claim to Have Lived Before Abraham.

They denounced Him. They said, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Well, if you begin to figure a little bit you soon find that Abraham lived many years before Christ was here on earth. Yes, many years.

But Jesus clarified this for them. He said, “Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it.” I wonder how Abraham saw Jesus’ day. Well, I remember one time when God sent Abraham to Mount Moriah to offer his only son, Isaac, on the altar. God provided a ram to be slain in Isaac’s place and Abraham said, “In the Mount of the Lord, it shall be seen.” He saw the sacrifice of the ram for his son. In that way, I think, he saw the day of Jesus.

Then Jesus went on to say, “Before Abraham existed, I AM.” Do you remember that when Moses was sent by the Lord to Egypt to bring the children of Israel out, Moses asked the Lord, “What shall I say? Whom shall I say sent me?” And He said, “tell them “I AM” hath sent you.” So Jesus could say, “Before Abraham existed, I AM.” He claimed to have lived before Abraham and indeed He did.

Why is Jesus supreme? Because He is God in the flesh. He is not a human being trying to be God; He is God in the flesh. The eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He has the right to claim power over death. He has the right to say He has direct contact with God. He has the right to say He lived before Abraham. He is supreme.

It is, therefore, important, my friend, for you to have the proper relationship with Him. Have you responded in faith?

In everyday life we learn by comparing one thing with another. Most likely in your community you have certain sayings like, “hard as stone” or “dark as night.” These are comparisons we are all familiar with.

To make comparisons is a good way to learn because what we do not know we can compare with that which we do know. Sometimes we may see someone who reminds us of a friend, or a member of our family. If we watch carefully we can observe traits that identify that person or object, but we must know what we are looking for. We have a saying in English like this: “Birds of a feather flock together.” No matter what kind of bird, stork or whatever, they usually travel together, don’t they?

So, it is true in other considerations of life. We learn by COMPARISONS. The same things go together. Let us see what we find in John 8:37-47.

37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

From our text I mean to examine certain areas which should help us to understand which COMPARISONS are very important.

The first Comparison:

Father Likeness.

We may say this is family identity. Each of us have certain traits that make us clearly a part of our family. You have yours, I have mine. And Jesus drew a comparison on that very point. He said to the Jews who were questioning Him, “You do what your father says, I do what my Father says.”

Yet Jesus went beyond the physical likeness. He took it to the moral and spiritual dimensions, to that part of life which controls conduct. For the most part conduct is controlled by the model we follow. Jesus said He does the Father’s will and they do their father’s will.

They appealed to the fact that Abraham was their father. While they said Abraham was their father, they were thinking only of the physical. Jesus answered them that what they were seeking to do to Him their father Abraham, if indeed he was their father, would not have done.

No claim will do in family lines until the deeds match the claim. So here is one comparison: father likeness.

There is a second Comparison:

God Likeness.

Here they made a very futile proposal. They said God was their Father. They implied that Jesus was born of fornication because He was born of the virgin. They said, “We are not born of fornication; God is our Father.” They tried to make a spiritual appeal. Jesus tested them with a proof. He said, “If God were your Father you would love me, but you do not love me. I came from God and I am going to God but you do not love me. I proceeded forth and came from God, neither did I come of myself, but he sent me.”

Heart attitude is so very important. He said, “Why do you not understand my words? Because you cannot hear my word.” Heart attitudes are so very, very important. Empty claims are useless unless backed by proper conduct. No one can claim to be God-like and not love Jesus.

Say, I think I’d better run that one past again: no one can claim to be God-like and not love Jesus.

There is a third Comparison:

Truth Likeness.

Here Jesus sets forth a very significant exclusion. He excludes the devil. He says there is no truth in him; there is no peace in him; he is a murderer and a liar from the beginning; and all who follow him are like him. He never knew what it was to walk in truth. He speaks a lie and when he does, he speaks of his own because he is the father of lies. The conclusion is a very sober one, all who follow the devil are like him. So there is also the exclusion of unbelievers.

I discovered something here, my friend; truth divides. The truth of God divides. “Why do you not believe me? I tell you the truth but you do not believe me,” Jesus said. He went on to explain that truth has its source in God. God’s words are truth.

I want you to be sure and understand this. “Which of you convicts me of sin,” Jesus asked. “If I say the truth why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears God’s word.” I must insist, my friend, that truth divides. It separates error from truth. Only those who follow God can have any claim on truth.

These comparisons strike home to us, do they not? What does your conduct reveal about you? Your father likeness is showing. I appeal to you, believe God, accept the truth, and your God likeness will be showing.

We are all very much aware of the fact that liberation movements are everywhere. People want to be free; they want to be independent. I am not criticizing anybody, but I wonder sometimes how these very small nations are going to make it. Often the true meaning of freedom is overlooked. Sometimes the meaning of freedom is actually distorted, twisted, so people do not really understand what freedom means.

To want what is not good for us is to become misfits and that surely leads to bondage, not freedom. I often think of the way children demonstrate this. They want what is not good for them and in that way create more problems for themselves than they solve.

But the most serious bondage is the bondage of the spirit. And the most joyous freedom is freedom of the spirit. Because we are so fleshly we often fail to understand this fact: the most joyous freedom is freedom of the spirit.

The way to freedom is set forth in the Scriptures. I have chosen John 8:31-36 for the foundation of this instruction on HOW TO BE FREE.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

How can we be free? Jesus offers several expert COUNSELS as to how we can be free in the true sense.

The first Counsel:

Continue in My Word.

I want to point out to you that Jesus by making this statement, continue in my word, suggested that this is not a momentary experience, but this is an abiding or a dwelling place. “If you continue (if you live, as it were) in my word then you will be my disciple indeed.”

There is a definite relationship: my disciple. This whole idea of disciple and Lord is an exciting idea, because it simply means that when you become a disciple of Jesus Christ then He orders your life. You need no longer be so concerned about where you are going or what you are doing because Jesus as Lord of your life will give you direction.

There is also a distinct discovery here because Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Oh, people are searching for truth but they don’t find it because they don’t search for it at the right place. Jesus said His word will bring you to truth. Some find it. Praise the Lord! I’m glad to point out to you that truth is found in Jesus’ words.

To be free means to continue in the word of Jesus. Don’t miss the full force of this counsel. He said if you want to be free then you continue in His word.

The second Counsel He gives us:

Consider Wisdom.

They really denied their condition. They said, “We are Abraham’s children. We have never been in bondage to anybody.” They fell into a serious state. They thought that family lines can override the spiritual problem. They over emphasized their family background. They ignored the daily situation because at that time they were under the bondage of Rome. The Roman rulers had the say over them, but in their desperation they did not consider the wisdom of Jesus. So He needed to point out to them that true freedom is not in their family line, but true freedom comes in the spirit. So He showed them that sin enslaves. Sin makes slaves out of people.

Oh yes, I know that to be true. I have witnessed it. What’s more, I have experienced it. He taught them that sin enslaves and yet there is hope in the Son. For He said, “The slave does not abide in the house forever but the Son abides forever.” In other words, you can break the bondage of sin if you respond to the wisdom of Jesus.

To be free means to consider the wisdom of Jesus. Sin enslaves. It creates bondage of the spirit, but Jesus can liberate you.

There is a third Counsel on how to be free:

Confess My Work.

That is the only way, for Jesus said when the Son makes you free, then you are free indeed. Oh, my friend, I want you to catch this in verse 36: “Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” It is His work to set you free. You can struggle all you want but you will never be free until you are willing to confess His work.

Then you have true freedom! And without a doubt for Jesus said, “You shall be free indeed.” Indeed, without doubt. Yes. Praise the Lord! When we come His way then we experience that freedom of the spirit, the most important area where freedom can be experienced.

To be free means to confess Jesus’ work. He liberates the spirit. And that’s the most important place for liberation to happen, in your spirit and mine.

How to be free then involves accepting the counsels of Jesus: continue in my word, consider my wisdom, confess my work. He said, “If you continue in my word then you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”

I invite you to find this freedom of which Jesus spoke, freedom of the spirit.

The greatest curse of our time, my friend, is go it by yourself, do your own thing. It is not new. Men in other days tried that as well. Long before King David’s time the Bible reports every man did that which was right in his own eyes. That is what we see today on every hand. Independence then brought a harvest of anarchy and society went to pieces. We are living in days uncomfortably like those days long ago. WE NEED HELP to find the way in life. Our most important step in life is to admit our need. Why are we so slow to understand what our problem is?

A conversation Jesus had with the people of His day will provide us with some very helpful suggestions. It is recorded in John 8:12-20.

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

From these words of Jesus I wish to point out to you the REASONS why we need help.

The first Reason:

The Prevailing Darkness of Self-will.

Jesus plainly set us the contrast. He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness.” Immediately by implication I understand that Jesus said anywhere else besides following Him is darkness. But there must be a yielding to follow Him. “If any man follow me, he shall not walk in the darkness.”

Self-will is the path of darkness. You may think you have light when you don’t, because Jesus said if you follow Him you will walk in the light, you’ll not be walking in the darkness. So if you are not following Him, then you are walking in the darkness.

King David once said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” The prevailing darkness of self-will is one reason why we need help.

The second Reason we need help:

The Assailing Error of Human Judgment.

They came back to Jesus like this: “You bare record of yourself. Your record is not true.” That had a very shallow basis; it had no footing. It was a response without depth. They had little time for reflection. It was a one-sided evidence for Jesus said, “You judge after the flesh.” There was not taken all matters into consideration. They had uncertainty because the flesh is shifting. It was unreal because it was partial. You can’t make a partial judgment and come anywhere near reality.

We need help. Jesus said, “Your law says that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” I affirm, my friend, that God’s law will give us help. I affirm we need help because human judgment is not enough. There is error in human judgment. We need help because of the assailing error of human judgment.

We also need help because:

The Alienating Ignorance of the Rational Mind.

We were made to think. Oh yes, God made us that way. Our reasoning ability is part of God’s gift to us. But the mind has sidetracks that separate us from God. These people got sidetracked. They said, “Where is your father?” Many let their minds throw up roadblocks.

This was a show of unbelief because they did not believe in Him. But Jesus said, “The Father and I are one.” There was a union between Him and God. As the Son of God, Jesus could make such a statement: “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.”

Yes, my friend, we need help. We cannot take this step into knowledge without taking the step of faith. Our minds are too limited. Our rational mind is hemmed in with ignorance. Jesus will open a whole new field of knowledge for you. We need help for the alienating ignorance of the rational mind keeps us away from God.

Your greatest step forward will be when you agree with me and God that you need help. Your self-will has you in darkness; Jesus can give you light. Your human judgment has you in error; Jesus can give you truth. Your rational mind has you in ignorance; Jesus can give you knowledge. You need help and He can give it to you.