14 January 2015 - to destroy the works of the devil

For this purpose have I come.

For which purpose? Not just to go, not just to to preach, but "to destroy the works of the devil" (cf. 1 Joh. 3:8).

Fevers, illness, and demonic possessions are just examples of these works. These things afflict those who "share in blood and Flesh". They are symptoms of the thing that is common to all the children of blood and Flesh. They are symptoms of death.

This is the purpose for which Jesus comes. It is not to help angels who do not share in blood and Flesh. It is to help us. We are the ones who are slaves. If we are honest we don't try to say along with the Pharisees that we have never been slaves to anyone. If we are honest we find ourselves choosing things we don't want and not choosing things we do want. "For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" (cf. Rom. 7:15). This isn't freedom. This is the slavery to which the fear of death subjects us. Death makes shortsighted selfishness our master and a harsh master it is. We are those "who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life."

The purpose for which Jesus comes is freedom. It is why he shares in blood and Flesh. It is why he lets us share his Sonship. He shows a path beyond fear. He shows a path where death is not the end. He gives us hope.

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 (cf. Joh. 8:35-36).

He shares our blood and Flesh so that he can help us in the most personal and loving way imaginable. He unites himself so closely with us because he loves us too much to leave us as slaves.

Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

How are we slaves this morning? What bad things are we choosing that we don't want to choose? They might feel hopeless and beyond our power to control. They are beyond our power, indeed, but they are not hopeless. Jesus wants to set us free. What good things do we feel unable to choose? Jesus wants to set us free. And in him we are free indeed.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (cf. Gal. 5:1).

He never forgets us. He remembers his covenant for ever, for a thousand generations. So let us praise him for the freedom he constantly makes available.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.