It is often pointed out that there is a danger when we try to relying solely on scripture. It is not necessarily the scriptures we are relying on, but rather our understanding of them, or our leaders’ understanding of them. Someone might convince us to just accept the words in the text, and that if we try to take it literally, we can get a sense of assurance that we are truly relying on the scripture itself. Yet, even this is an understanding, albeit a more literal one. It is the spirit of what is written that matters, not the letter. Yet, even here, we need to use discernment to understand how the writer intended us to read the passage. The answer? Jesus promised a great promise. If we simply trust that he is the light of the world sent by the Father, we can dedicate ourselves, permanently, to letting his light shine in the sayings of Jesus and those he sent, holding to them in the best sense we can, we can let the promise do the rest: The promise that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. The Son setting us free is the Son’s truth coming to us. It comes in various ways, but it comes with his intention of it setting us free. Then if the Son sets us free, we shall be free indeed. That is the promise.
