John 18:37 “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

Christmas 2024!

And for my Christmas post, what better than a verse where Jesus himself says why he was born into this world?

Most people brush Jesus Christ’s birth aside, but it still is a “Christian” holiday based around the birth of Christ, but perhaps this year it would be as good a time as any to consider for ourselves what Jesus said about why he was born into this world.

Because what’s the big deal about Christmas? Someone called Christ is born, why is that relevant to me and my life? That’s a fair question, because without context and meaning it doesn’t make practical sense.

Maybe you just will never care, fair enough. But even if you cancel Christ from your Christmas, remember, Jesus was “cancelled” on a cross at Calvary, or so they intended to. But they found out, and so do we all, that Jesus is relevant in a big way.

He’s as relevant as ever and only going to get more relevant too. And you benefit from him and at this time, even if you refuse to acknowledge him.

Thing is, we all enjoy the goodness and grace of God, and no matter what path we take be it in salvation or damnation, he will be glorified by your life in the end “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”

And so at Christmas time, we remember the birth of Christ, such a big event that our calendar and entire reference point for our own existence is structured around it and measured by it.

BC means “before Christ” and AD means “Anno Domini” which translates to “in the year of our Lord”. We are all living in the year of our Lord.

Whenever you tell people how old you are, whenever you write your birth date, whenever you use the calendar for any reason in your life, every date you make, every appointment you keep… your entire life is referenced according to Christ. You’re in his day. You’re stepping on his grace. You’re on his time.

Because while we may think ourselves the centre of the universe, Jesus Christ is actually the cause, reason and purpose for existence. That’s why the calendar is based on him and not us.

And all this is yet another proof of why the Bible says “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart”… because every day we live we benefit and borrow from Christ, believers or not, unwittingly or knowingly.

Salvation is so close, so possible, so achievable, it’s in your mouth and heart without even knowing it, God has made it so easy for each one of us, it really is quite an achievement to go to hell.

But back on topic! … from the verse quoted at the start, the situation is that Jesus is having a conversation with the Roman governor just before he orders his crucifixion. He’s got Jesus on trial, maybe Jesus is standing trial for you too… one day those tables will be turned.

And so Pilate is trying to figure out who Jesus is, and why he’s here. He kinda wants to know, but kinda doesn’t too, and he’s so compromised by his fear of people, and own sin in his life that he’s not bound to do much with whatever Jesus tells him.

But Jesus does tell Pilate (which he does not “get” at all) why he was born, why the Christmas story happened, why God entered the world as a man – and that is to “bear witness unto the truth.”

Jesus was born into this world to authoritatively declare truth, truth express from God the Father, his Father, to eliminate all doubt, to dismiss all opinion, to cast down all philosophy, to destroy all false ideas of “God”, to alleviate all our disputing, denying, fear and worry, to save us from going to hell… God’s word settled it.

It turns out it doesn’t matter what you or I think, because God has spoken by his own Son, and left a clear witness and record of what to believe. It’s not up for debate, its just a matter of whether we believe or not.

If your truth is important to you, know that when Jesus returns as promised, he’s not going to judge you according to your truth… he’s going to judge you according to his truth “for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”

And you know what, if you are as truth seeking as everyone says they are, then you wouldn’t argue with God’s word, you’d say Amen to it “And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”

We use that saying “I hear ya” to say I get what you’re saying, I agree with what you’re saying, we’re on the same page… I hear ya! Well, if you’re a Christian, if you’re born again, if you have the Spirit of God in you, if you “truly” seek truth… you should and would say “I hear ya” to God’s word, as Jesus said “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Hopefully you hear God this Christmas! Stop the “butt” and start the “baa”! Have a good Christmas!

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