From the Desk of Pastor Mark
In the 18th chapter of John, Jesus is facing His impending death. He‘s been beaten, arrested, questioned and in verse 37, as He stand before Pilate, He makes a profound comment about His birth. Pilate said, ?So you are a king? Jesus responded, ?You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.
As we look at the calendar, the celebration of the birth of Jesus is still two months away. Why bring it up now? Because we will soon be barraged with ads wanting us to go to Stuff Mart and begin the holiday frenzy. But Jesus himself said that the purpose of His birth was to testify to the ?truth, not to be the start of a shopping frenzy. The business world has usurped that truth by cloaking it in the spirit of happy holidays. Their truth is to get us to spend lots of money on stuff. If you don‘t buy stuff, feel guilty. Then buy stuff even if you can‘t afford it. Buy it on credit. Give stuff to others. The ?truth was revealed in John 3, verse 16. ?God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. It was also revealed in chapter 15, verses 12-14, ?This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one‘s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. It’s about love, God‘s way, a lifestyle way, and not just once a year during the holidays. Jesus said of Himself that He ?was born and came into this world to testify to the truth. The business world wants it to be about stuff. Jesus wants it to be a matter of our hearts. ?Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32
In recent years they have begun their advertising frenzy earlier and earlier, and now they are intentionally removing any reference to Jesus, yet banking on our need to buy things from them to give to one another. They have, in essence, exchanged the truth for a lie. Yes, it is wonderful to give one another presents. Yes, it is correct to think of others and to reach out to them, to remember family, friends and acquaintances. The danger is that we think if we buy a present for someone and give it to them, then we‘re all done, and that the culmination in our ?love one another? life is completed during the holidays. And for the generations of our church family that have grown up on television and all the latest media, it has simply become part of our nature. It has covered up the ?truth that Jesus was trying to tell Pilate. The truth that ?God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.