It is for freedom!

As you know, one of the questions I have been pondering this week is, “Why did Jesus die?”

I woke up this morning hearing these words in my head:
”Freedom is what we have, Christ has set us free. Stand then as free men (and women!). Do not allow yourselves to be enslaved again. Freedom is what we have. Christ has set us free!”

These are the words to a little song I learned when I was in my 20s. I knew these words came from the Bible, so I looked up their source, which turns out to be Galatians 5:1.

I then started wondering what Jesus Himself said about freedom and I found these blessed words:

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:31.

What could be better than that Jesus’ death be all about freedom?

I remember reading Richard Rohr’s book Falling Upward many years ago. His take on the meaning of Jesus’ death was that it was to demonstrate that life is about suffering, death and resurrection. This rang true for me. Jesus was living in solidarity with each of us, and experiencing what each of us experiences in our life here on earth.

I have some more pondering to do, but for this Easter, I am going to rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus’ death on the cross had in part, at least, to do with obtaining our freedom.

Hallelujah!