The hot desert sun shone brightly on the sparkling Nile. But it was a dark day in Egypt, for the nation of Israel was suffering under the whips of cruel masters.
It hadn’t always been this way. Not long before, Joseph, a relative of these slaves, had saved the empire. He had brought them through a terrible famine, and the land of Egypt was delivered. But then a new king arose – one who forgot all about Joseph.
To this Pharaoh, the vast multitude of Israelites posed a very real threat. He forced them into slavery, and their lives became bitter and hard. Their plight only worsened as Pharaoh decreed the destruction of their infant boys. Israel was not only in slavery, but as good as dead! They were helpless, hopeless, and desperately in need of deliverance.
It wasn’t long before God miraculously saved Israel from their slavery. But 1400 years later, along another river, a man named Jesus stepped forward. “Behold the Lamb of God!” the prophet John cried (Joh 1:29). This was the true deliverer, and from far more than Egyptian slavery.
As Jesus began to teach, His audience was astounded at His claims. “I was sent,” Jesus said, “to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Luk 4:18).
Three years went by, and the words of Christ were as powerful as ever. “If you abide in my word,” Jesus taught, “… you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Joh 8:31-32 ESV). But Jesus wasn’t speaking of their literal slavery, either to Egypt or to Rome. His preaching went to the heart of the real problem: their bondage to sin. “Everyone who practices sin,” he said, “is a slave to sin” (Joh 8:34).
Today, we are confident that we are free. No one (we think) is our master! But the words of Jesus are clear: we are slaves; we are under the power of sin.
Have you been deceitful? A gossip? Cruel? Have you acted out of pride, malice, or lust? You have – for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). Our sin defines us, controls us, and ultimately will destroy us.
Religion is always trying to break that bondage. We are told to lead a moral life – to do the best we can. Surely that will please God.
But the teaching of the Bible is completely different. Like the Israelite slaves, we can do nothing to save ourselves. We are blind and spiritually dead. Our bodies, our souls, and our wills are in bondage, headed only to eternal destruction. The situation is hopeless apart from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You see, He lived a perfect life – one quite unlike ours. Sin was never His master! Yet when He died, voluntarily giving up His own life, it was “the righteous for the unrighteous” (1Pe 3:18). Christ took the place of the guilty sinner, bearing our sins and satisfying God. And in His death and resurrection, He has destroyed the power of sin and death!
The finished work of the Savior must be received by faith alone – not by anything you do, but only through trusting Christ for salvation. If you receive Him as your Savior, you’ll find true joy, peace, and freedom. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” (Joh 8:36).
