Louise Gevers
To the Jews who had believed him, 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.' John 8:31-32, NIV
“Being free” sounds simple and eminently desirable when we imagine what being caged or imprisoned could mean, yet it’s a complex concept because of our intricate structure as human beings; we can be bound and often not even be aware that we are. Created in God’s image, we possess different parts. Besides our visible body, we have a heart, mind and spirit, any part of which can be bound, or enslaved.
Ironically, we can be free physically and yet still “in chains”, or, incarcerated, but liberated in spirit. Where we are at present is perhaps difficult to assess, yet an important question remains: are we free, or enslaved?
In our verse today, this was the question that was raised with the people Jesus was talking to. John wrote that, “All the people” (John 8:2) had come to Him in the temple, and He was teaching them, when the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery, and tested Jesus. Would Jesus agree with the punishment Moses had decreed in the Old Testament?
Jesus’ wisdom was evident in His handling of the situation, because the Pharisees ended up having to admit, as they slunk away, that they, too, were sinners who had no right to “be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7) and the woman walked away free, with no condemnation from Jesus, but an instruction to “sin no more”. (John 8:11) Jesus’ ability to interpret the Law justly engaged the people further, wanting to be enlightened as they listened.
Jesus defined for them His perception of a true disciple: someone who holds to His teaching and the truth that it brings. The beautiful words, “If you abide in my word … you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” invite them to remain in Jesus, and His teaching, which connects them to the One who embodies Truth, and holds the authority to release them from the power of sin and death; guilt and shame; fear and judgment, and be healed; to start over with a new identity, freed to be able to enjoy a personal relationship with God.
Again, Jesus faces prejudice and pride as they refuse to believe Him that Abraham’s children could be enslaved and in need of freeing; repeating their inability to see their prejudice and unjust treatment of the woman caught in adultery.
And us? Do we hold onto our own truth and pride?
Jesus invites us, too, to be His disciples. Are we under His teaching, and rooted in the Truth that sets us free?
Will we abide in Him?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that You are the Truth that sets me free! Amen
Louise Gevers
Toe sê Jesus vir die Jode wat in Hom glo: “As julle aan my woorde getrou bly, is julle waarlik my dissipels; en julle sal die waarheid ken, en die waarheid sal julle vrymaak.” Johannes 8:31-32, 1983-vertaling
"Om vry te wees" klink eenvoudig en uiters wenslik, veral as 'n mens dit vergelyk met wat dit beteken om vasgevang of in gevangeskap te wees. Tog is dit 'n komplekse konsep omdat ons as mense so ingewikkeld is – ons kan dikwels vasgevang wees sonder om dit eers te besef. Ons is gemaak na God se beeld en ons beskik oor verskillende dele. Behalwe die sigbare liggaam, het ons ook 'n hart, verstand en gees, alles dele wat vasgevang of verslaaf kan wees.
Ironies kan ons fisies vry en tog nog "in kettings" wees, of opgesluit, maar vry in gees. Wat ons huidige toestand is, is miskien moeilik om te bepaal, tog is die belangrikste vraag altyd: is ons vry of vasgevang?
In ons teksvers vir vandag was dit die vraag wat geopper is aan die mense met wie Jesus gepraat het. Johannes skryf dat "die hele volk" (Johannes 8:2) na Hom toe gekom het in die tempel waar Hy besig was om die mense te leer, toe die Fariseërs 'n vrou wat owerspel gepleeg het na Hom toe bring om Hom uit te lok. Stem Jesus saam met die straf wat Moses in die Ou Testament neergelê het?
Jesus se wysheid blyk duidelik in die manier hoe Hy die situasie hanteer. Op die ou einde moes die Fariseërs erken, terwyl hulle een vir een wegloop, dat hulle ook sondaars is wat nie die reg het "om eerste 'n klip op haar [te] gooi" nie. (Johannes 8:7) Die vrou het vry weggeloop sonder dat Jesus haar veroordeel het, maar met 'n opdrag: "... moet van nou af nie meer sonde doen nie". (Johannes 8:11) Jesus se interpretasie van die Wet het die mense verder geïntresseer, en hulle wou, terwyl hulle na Hom luister, beter verstaan.
Jesus het vir hulle sy begrip van 'n ware dissipel gedefinieer as iemand wat vashou aan sy [Jesus] leringe en die waarheid wat dit bring. Die mooi woorde, "As julle aan my woorde getrou bly ... sal [julle] die waarheid ken, en die waarheid sal julle vrymaak", nooi hulle uit om in Jesus te bly, wat hulle verbind met die Een wat die waarheid is, en die gesag het om hulle te bevry van die krag van sonde en dood; skuld en skaamte; angs en veroordeling, en hulle kan genees om oor te begin met 'n nuwe identiteit, vry om 'n persoonlike verhouding met God te geniet.
Weer eens ervaar Jesus egter hulle vooroordeel en trots aangesien hulle weier om Hom te glo dat die kinders van Abraham vasgevang kon wees en bevry moes word; 'n herhaling van hulle onvermoë om hulle onregverdige behandeling van die owerspelige vrou raak te sien.
En ons? Hou ons ook vas aan ons eie trots en vooroordeel?
Jesus nooi ons ook uit om sy dissipels te word. Is ons gehoorsaam aan Jesus se leringe en geanker in die waarheid wat ons vrymaak?
Sal ons in Hom bly?
Gebed: Here Jesus, dankie dat U die waarheid is en my vrygemaak het! Amen
Louise Gevers
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts … James 5:8, ESV
Lying in ER, not knowing the cause of the incident I had just experienced, I felt calm, despite the high blood pressure reading the Sister on duty had just taken. As I mindfully spoke the familiar words of Psalm 23, I felt a sense of surprise, and joy, as the well-known words “came alive” in a new way and I rejoiced in the quiet presence of the Shepherd of the psalm. Presently, the sheep was satisfied, and my heart was grateful.
Psalm 23 had covered all the possible scenarios and eventualities with the same result – peace, trust, surrender – and now, looking back, I realise that it is our heart connection to God that truly matters, not just in a hospital setting, but wherever we may be.
An established heart looks to God to minister into each situation, to be our strength as we call to Him, to remind ourselves of His promises and lean into His presence; to know that “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever”. (Psalm 73:26) Having peace because God is with me enables me to be resilient, hopeful and to stand firm; so, to be established we need to spend time in His presence and time in His Word.
And this is why, in our verse today, James tells the early Christians, scattered outside of Jerusalem, to “establish their hearts” to be able to withstand their severe trials patiently, and with hope; to persevere throughout the persecution and hardships they are suffering, firmly rooted in God, keeping their eyes on Him. Using the example of a farmer, and recognising that he patiently waits till the last rains have watered the “precious fruit of the earth” (James 5:7) to produce an excellent crop, he encourages them to stand firm and do the same.
Whatever is of true value is worth waiting for, and being thoroughly prepared, as any pregnant mother knows, is vital; and it’s not our pride in the worth of our words in prayer that keeps us on our knees until He answers, as it is our trust in God’s faithfulness, in our hearts, and the knowledge that when Jesus returns, we will be ready to meet Him.
Are our hearts established, patient and steadfast, able to trust God’s purpose for our growth in our lives, regardless of how well or bad it seems to us at present?
How would you respond to James?
Prayer: Father God, help me to establish my heart in You and grow through Jesus Christ, the living Word, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, through prayer. Amen
Louise Gevers
Wees dan geduldig, staal julle harte ... Jakobus 5:8a, 2020-vertaling
Terwyl ek onlangs in die noodafdeling van 'n hospitaal gelê het sonder om te weet wat die oorsaak was van die insident wat ek ervaar het, was ek kalm ten spyte van die hoë bloeddruklesing wat die suster aan diens geneem het. Terwyl ek die bekende woorde van Psalm 23 saggies herhaal, het ek 'n gevoel van verwondering en vreugde ervaar toe die bekende woorde op 'n nuwe manier "lewendig" geword het en ek my kon verheug in die stille teenwoordigheid van die Herder van die psalm. Dié skaap was tevrede en my hart dankbaar.
Psalm 23 het al die moontlike scenario's en gebeure gedek, met dieselfde resultaat tot gevolg – vrede, vertroue, oorgawe – en kyk ek nou terug, besef ek dat dit ons hartsverbinding met God is wat regtig saak maak, nie net in 'n hospitaalomgewing nie, maar waar ons ons ook al mag bevind.
'n Hart wat God ken en aan Hom verbind is, roep Hom aan in elke situasie en vra vir krag, om onsself aan sy beloftes en teenwoordigheid te herinner en om opnuut te weet dat: "My liggaam en my hart kan maar wegkwyn, God is die rots van my hart en my erfdeel vir altyd." (Psalm 73:26) Om vrede te ervaar omdat God by my is, stel my in staat om sterk en hoopvol te wees en om vas te staan; om 'n hart wat God ken te hê, moet ons tyd in sy teenwoordigheid en met sy woord deurbring.
Dit is hoekom, in ons teksvers vir vandag, Jakobus aan die vroeë Christene wat oral buite Jerusalem versprei was, sê: "staal julle harte" sodat hulle al die groot beproewings met geduld en hoop kon verduur en te midde van vervolging vas kon staan, diep geanker in God met hulle oë gerig op Hom. Hy gebruik die beeld van 'n landbouer wat met geduld wag "op die waardevolle opbrengs van die aarde, tot die vroeë en laatreëns geval het" (Jakobus 5:7). Jakobus moedig die Christene aan om vas te staan en dieselfde te doen.
Wat ook al waardevol is, is werd om voor te wag en om deeglik voorbereid te wees is, soos alle swanger vroue weet, noodsaaklik. Dit is nie omdat ons dink die woorde van ons gebede is so waardevol dat ons op ons knieë bly totdat God geantwoord het nie, maar dit is omdat ons in ons harte God vertrou en omdat ons weet wanneer Jesus weer kom, ons gereed sal wees om Hom te ontmoet.
Is ons harte gestaal, geduldig en standvastig, vertrou ons God vir groei in ons lewe ondanks hoe goed of sleg dit mag gaan?
Hoe sal jy Jakobus antwoord?
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, gee aan my 'n hart wat U ken en help my om deur gebed te groei in Jesus Christus, die lewende Woord, en deur die krag van die Heilige Gees. Amen