Slave or Free?

One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. Galatians 4: 23-26 NRSV

Jesus comes to us through the promise rather than through slavery.

We have spoken of Jesus putting on the garments of a slave but he has come to free us from slavery. This is through the promise that God has given to us.

Jesus came in the flesh so that we might be truly free. Jesus took on human likeness and absolute obedience so that we would fulfill the promise. Jesus was born as a babe so that we could be reborn as children of God. As children of God, we too can claim Sarah as our mother and attain the promise.

The cross would never have happened if Jesus had not taken on flesh and lived among us.

Thanks be to God for God's perfect gift in Christ Jesus! Amen.

Question for the day: Are you acting like a free person or a slave?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims