Here Jesus is talking to those who really do believe in him, but, they don’t get it: being a slave does not always mean physical bondage. There are many ways to be a slave and committing sin is one of the best ways. But, there is a way out:
We prefer to think of the teachings of Jesus as sweet, warm, and comforting. We want to listen and learn the truth and wisdom of Jesus. BUT this passage says the life of Jesus’ public teachings were urgent!
Jesus set the bar high by asking us to look within ourselves before judging others. We can say that goes against human nature, but isn’t that exactly the point when, as Christians, we are to be the hands and feet of Christ here on earth?
Jesus was never one for clear answers. Even when he was present on the earth, his audience was divided. Was he the Messiah? Or was he just another ranting lunatic? Sometimes we think if we had just been there when Jesus was here on Earth, we’d know the answer. But this passage in John makes it clear that to most people, Jesus’s ministry was a mystery.
I think about how often we are called to do things that might be inconvenient or fearful and the different ways that we might respond in our own age of chaos. Do we react like a puppet directed by fear and whatever requires the least trouble or effort? Or do we respond from faith and love, striving for God’s call to righteousness?