The price of our freedom from sin was paid by Jesus’s blood.

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745–1796) was only 11 years old when he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He made the harrowing journey from West Africa to the West Indies, then to the colony of Virginia, and then to England. By the age of 20 he purchased his own freedom, still bearing the emotional and physical scars of the inhumane treatment he had experienced.

Unable to enjoy his own freedom while others were still enslaved, Equiano became active in the movement to abolish slavery in England. He wrote his autobiography (an unheard of achievement for a former slave in that era) in which he described the horrific treatment of the enslaved.

When Jesus came, He fought a battle for all of us who are enslaved and unable to fight for ourselves. Our slavery is not one of outward chains. We are held by our own brokenness and sin. Jesus said, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34–36).

Wherever such a freedom seems unheard of, His words need to be declared. We can be liberated from our guilt, shame, and hopelessness. By trusting Jesus, we can be free indeed!

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making the sacrifice that has secured my freedom and eternal life. May I learn to love You in a way that honors the love You have shown me.

耶稣宝血付赎价，使我除罪得自由。

所以天父的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。-约翰福音8章36节

艾奎亚诺（Olaudah Equiano，1745-1796年）在年仅11岁时，遭人绑架，贩卖沦为奴隶。他悲惨的奴役生涯从西非开始，辗转被卖到西印度群岛、美国维吉尼亚州（当时的英国殖民地），最后来到英国。直到20岁时，他才能为自己赎回自由，但多年所受到的不人道待遇，已经让他身心饱受创伤。

艾奎亚诺虽然已重获自由，但对于许多人依旧身陷奴役仍耿耿于怀，因此他积极参与英国的废奴运动。艾奎亚诺还写了一本自传（在那个年代，对于一个前奴隶来说，实属相当罕见的成就），深刻描述奴隶遭遇到的各种残忍对待。

耶稣来到世上，让我们这些被奴役且无力反抗的人得自由。我们并不是被外在的锁炼捆绑，而是受到心灵破碎及罪恶的捆绑。所以，耶稣说：“所有犯罪的，就是罪的奴仆。奴仆不能永远住在家里，儿子是永远住在家里。所以天父的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。” (约翰福音8章34-36节)

越没有自由的地方，越需要上帝的话语。我们可以脱离罪恶、愧疚和绝望。只要愿意信靠耶稣，我们就可以得着真自由！

主耶稣，感谢祢在十架上所做的牺牲，
让我得着自由与永活的生命。
因着祢向我显明的大爱，让我也能学习爱祢。

John 8:31-37New International Version (NIV)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.

整理：于姊妹