The meal that became “the Last Supper” for Jesus, the Gospel of Mark says, was to be a Passover meal. The Passover celebration is to be a reminder that God’s people were freed from slavery. At Passover the people have said for generations, “Why is this night different than other nights?” And the response is “We were slaves in Egypt and God brought us forth with a mighty hand.” We were slaves. Now we’re free. We… This is our story too. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is an added testament, to the God who seeks to make us free. Free from slavery, free from sin.
God has set us free. The problem is that we so often bind ourselves up again. We enslave ourselves again to things that are not life-giving, things that are not God… What are you enslaved by? Technology perhaps? Addictions? Insecurities? Resentment? What in your life is holding you down and keeping you from a life of freedom in Christ?
Galatians 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!” This seems an obvious statement, though we know, of course, it’s not unwarranted. Then Paul goes on to say “Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Let it be a prayer this week perhaps… “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”