You will know the truth
THE truth that Jesus is talking about is our salvation. We are saved when we keep the Word of God. It is a liberating truth, setting us free from slavery. Jesus advises the Jews who believe in Him that they stick to His words so that they will become His true disciples and that they will experience freedom. But then when these Jewish believers answer, they antagonize Him, by claiming that they, being descendants of Abraham, have never been enslaved by anyone.
Jesus picks up their mood, telling them that they plan to kill Him, which is not consistent with their being children of Abraham. They are not at all believers of Jesus.
Gospel • JOHN 8:31-42
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you remain in My word, you will truly be My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill Me, because My word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”
They answered and said to Him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to Him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.” Then Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on My own, but He sent Me.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2019,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http:// www.stpauls.ph.