The Runaway Slave

“No longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother.” — Philemon 1:16

While Paul was a prisoner, he met a young man called Onesimus.

Onesimus had run away from his master, a man called Philemon. In those days, many people were slaves, owned by other people. Onesimus was a slave who had run away from his master’s house, and he may have taken some money with him too. Running away was a serious crime. If he was caught, he could be punished very harshly.

Somehow, Onesimus found his way to Paul. And while he was with Paul, Onesimus came to believe in Jesus. He became a Christian, and a great help to Paul.

But here’s the surprising thing. Paul knew Philemon! Philemon was a Christian too, a friend of Paul’s. The church in his town even met in Philemon’s house.

So Paul decided to send Onesimus back to Philemon. But he didn’t send him back alone. He sent a letter with him. It’s a short letter, and it’s in the Bible. It’s called Philemon.

“I am writing to you about my son Onesimus,” Paul wrote. “He became my son while I was in chains. Once he was useless to you, but now he has become useful, both to you and to me.” That was a little joke, because the name Onesimus means “useful”!

“I would have liked to keep him with me, to help me while I’m in prison,” Paul wrote. “But I didn’t want to do anything without your agreement. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a while was so that you could have him back for ever, no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.”

Then Paul wrote, “So if you think of me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. And if he has done you any wrong, or owes you anything, charge it to my account. I will pay it back.”

Do you see what Paul did? He stood up for Onesimus. He asked Philemon to forgive him and welcome him home. And he offered to pay whatever Onesimus owed, out of his own pocket.

That is a picture of what Jesus does for us. We have run away from God, like Onesimus ran away from his master. We owe a debt we can never pay back. But Jesus says to His Father, “Welcome them as You would welcome Me. Whatever they owe, charge it to My account.” And He paid it all, on the cross.

In God’s family, there are no slaves and masters. There are only brothers and sisters, all welcomed home.

Read it in your Bible: Philemon 1:1–25

Dear Jesus, thank you that you paid everything I owed, and that you welcome me into God’s family. Help me to forgive people, and to welcome them as brothers and sisters. Amen.