Lesson 13:

Jesus: A Man
Truly Free
 How do you
define Freedom?
Jesus: A Truly Free Man

Authentic freedom is not

the right to say or do
anything but “to do
good” (CCC 1740).

And to do good is act like

Jesus did. It is not a
private possession, but a
shared freedom with
others in the community.
Jesus is a perfect
example of a free man
because He freed
people from slavery of
fears, anxieties, and
sins.

Jesus is the perfect

incarnation of God’s
free love and liberating
presence.
He is truly free from all
those that make people
anxious, afraid, guilty, or
enslaved, by sin.

Jesus is very
courageous in
questioning and going
against structures or
persons that oppress
people and deprive them
of liberation to live well.
Jesus refused to
conform to social
or religious laws
which lack
compassion and
resisted those
which are hurtful to
human beings.
For Jesus, mercy is far
more important than
legality. By His words
spoken in parables, He has
free people from sin and its
evil effects.

Jesus showed how

prestige, power, and riches
can replace God and lead
people to create laws,
structures, and relationship
of death.
Mark 3:1-6- Jesus Heals on
the Sabbath

Another time Jesus went into

the synagogue, and a man
with a shriveled hand was
there. Some of them were
looking for a reason to accuse
Jesus, so they watched him
closely to see if he would heal
him on the Sabbath. Jesus
said to the man with the
shriveled hand, “Stand up in
front of everyone.”
Then Jesus asked
them, “Which is
lawful on the
Sabbath: to do
good or to do evil,
to save life or to
kill?” But they
remained silent.
He looked around at them in anger and,
deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts,
said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He
stretched it out, and his hand was completely
restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began
to plot with the Herodians how they might kill
Jesus.
Jesus Liberating
Words

Jesus calls everyone

to be free by living out
the commandments of
love. Only in loving
forgiveness can people
be freed from sin.
Jesus’ invitation to love
God with all our heart,
mind, and soul points
to total dedication of
one’s life to God. It
implies total trust in God
who loves us.
By the word of God we become channels of
God’s compassion to others.

Only goodness can overcome sin and only

mercy can heal our brokenness and
enslavement to sin.

Just as God forgives without measure, so all

those who believe should forgive those who
wronged them.
How Is Jesus the Word Made
Flesh?
Jesus as the word made flesh, taught
us how to heal others through the
words that we say.

The goods things we say to others

frees them from negativities and the
temptation of sin.
Jesus’ Liberating Works

Jesus’ works brought

liberation to people. God
has shown His loving
mercy in Jesus’ action.

Jesus was God’s hand

at work in human lives
express His action.
By Jesus’ acts of
healing, exorcising
evil spirits, forgiving,
suffering, death, and
resurrection, He
offered to the people
the saving fellowship
with God.
Jesus brought
healing, freedom
from evil forces, and
hope to the people.

People experienced
in Him goodness,
love, and
acceptance.
The Man with a Withered Hand
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was
there who had a withered hand. 2 And they
watched him, to see whether he would heal him
on the sabbath, so that they might accuse
him. 3 And he said to the man who had the
withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to
them, “Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to
do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were
silent.
5
And he looked around at them with anger,
grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to
the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He
stretched it out, and his hand was
restored. 6 The Pharisees went out, and
immediately held counsel with the Hero′di-
ans against him, how to destroy him.
The saving love of God only works if people
restructure their lives toward God. Jesus invites
us to forget ourselves and to live in solidarity
with others.

He calls us to forgive one another, care for the

sick and the weak in society, share our
blessings with the poor, free ourselves from sin,
do good works, and be just in our relations with
one another.
We can only share
in the liberating
works of Jesus if
we allow His spirit
to free us from sin
and help us to be
courageous in our
struggle against
evil.
References:
• Afire with Gratitude: We Experience the
Saving Love of God pages 145-146
• CCC- Catechism of the Catholic Church
Assessment:
1. What values have you learn after reading your
chosen Parables?
a. (Parable 1)
b. (Parable 2)

2. How will you embody what you have learn from

your chosen Parables?
c. (Parable 1)
d. (Parable 2)