De Nile is a River in Egypt
Sometimes we find ourselves so mired down in the muck of denial, that even the most shining truth is missed. Then we dig down deep to dredge up some tired old excuse that we’ve used as a crutch time and time again.
When I was a kid, we’d call each other, fool head fool. Yeah, it sounds simple and kinda ridiculous now, but back then, those were fighting words. I think everything was fighting words.
Of course, the rebuttal was even more vicious, “Who you calling a fool head fool, fool?”
I can imagine Jesus wanting to say this to the Jews who just totally gave Him the craziest line ever as He spoke to them about complete freedom through truth. They were so pumped up with their own version of the truth that they missed the blessing of Jesus’s message.
“Slave? Who you calling a slave? We ain’t never been no slaves.” Is how I imagine them responding to Jesus instead of accepting His word as the truth, and the way to freedom.
Of course they’d been slaves for hundreds of years in Egypt, and were at the moment under Roman rule. They may not have worn physical shackles, but they were captives enslaved beneath Roman rule. So to say that to Jesus was an exercise in extreme denial.
How often do we do that when Jesus offers us a way out of our captivity to alcohol, drugs, abuse, porn, adultery, poverty, violence, unbelief or the many other untruths that we’d rather hang our hats upon instead of relying on faith in Christ?
Patiently, and with mercy and grace, Jesus didn’t respond with “Who you calling a fool head fool, fool?” He lovingly continued to explain that freedom comes from knowing the Son who indeed sets them free.
Much Love/Respect, Scott
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”33 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?”34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.John 8:31-38