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Celebrate Freedom

Jul 4, 2009

Freedom freedom freedom.

It was a word tossed around a lot this weekend which was only enhanced by listening to the compilation of 70’s freedom rock that accompanied the Newcastle Firework show at Lake Boren Park.

Freedom is a core value for Americans. And it is a core value for the New Testament as well, but in a different sense.

Jesus brings freedom to a bleeding woman in Mark 5 and tells her “Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” A few chapters later in Luke 13 Jesus encounters another woman. This woman has been unable to stand up straight for 18 years. “he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Jesus follows this healing by teaching about freedom. “…should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"

In Luke 4 Jesus casts the vision for his ministry in the words of Isaiah. Up in front of his hometown synagogue in Nazareth Jesus claims "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.”

What kind of prisoners does Jesus have in mind? Is he worried about the oppressive world power of the Roman government squatting on Jewish land? Is he interested in freeing his people from their pagan rule? Is he focused on freedom of speech or freedom of religion?

The answer must be “No.” The freedom Jesus has in mind is a deeper and more comprehensive freedom. It is a freedom from physical suffering, a freedom from physical infirmity and a freedom from spiritual slavery. Instead of seeking to overthrow Roman rule and bring about political freedom Jesus instead seeks to overthrow Satanic rule and bring about spiritual freedom from sin.

In John’s Gospel Jesus promises this deeper freedom. John 8:31-36 “Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus is here claiming to be God’s Son who can set us free from sin and give us a permanent place in God’s family as one of the Father’s kids. This is a more significant sense of belonging than the one we get from our political affiliations or our citizenship. In fact this is a truer citizenship than the one marked on our passport because it cannot expire or be revoked. The freedom Jesus promises comes when we hold to his teachings. It is a freedom that cannot be lost. And it is a freedom we celebrate more than once a year.

Every Sunday Christians around the world gather to celebrate that Jesus “has died as a ransom to set them free” (Hebrews 9:15). We celebrate our freedom from sin. Not only are we free from guilt but also from condemnation and from its power. Every Sunday this freedom is celebrated by billions of people across every color of skin, every nationality, every ethnicity, and in every language. It is not just for Americans it is for humanity.

Hallelujah! We get to do more than wave a flag or blow something up to celebrate the freedom we have in Christ. Instead we get to live free from sin and we get to invite others to experience this freedom with us.

Our neighborhoods and workplaces are still full of people who have not yet experienced this great gift. Christians don’t just live out their freedom but we also invite others into it.

This Sunday Emmaus Road will celebrate freedom from pride, freedom from self-centeredness, freedom from self-righteousness, and freedom from all other kind of debilitating sin.

See ya Sunday!!

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