Passion Wednesday

“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.

If the Son frees you, then you will be free indeed."

John 8:31b-32, 36

Chorale:

Christe, du Lamm Gottes, der du trägst die Sünd der Welt, erbarm dich unser. 

O Christ, thou Lamb of God, thou that takest the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christe, du Lamm Gottes, der du trägst die Sünd der Welt, erbarm dich unser. 

O Christ, thou Lamb of God, thou that takest the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christe, du Lamm Gottes, der du trägst die Sünd der Welt, gib uns deinen Frieden. Amen.

O Christ, thou Lamb of God, thou that takest the sins of the world, give unto us thy peace. Amen.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Freedom in Christ is fundamentally different from how we understand human freedom. By our free will, we have the power to do as we choose; in Christ, we have freedom from sin and the power to do God's will, the fulfillment of freedom. 

The world proclaims that by exercising our will we shall be more ourselves, but exercise of our independence is not the purpose of our being; our deepest longing is for love, a longing that is only fulfilled by Love itself, and upon finding one pearl of great value, there is no hesitation to sacrifice everything to obtain it.