Christ Came Down…To Proclaim the Truth

Over this month we are answering the question: WHY Christ Came Down?

We must not miss the REASON Jesus was born…

Why is Jesus the REASON for the season?

Last week Christ came down…to SHOW us the Father.

He SHOWS us God…He is God!

Mankind’s search for the One, True & living God is answered in…God becoming Man…Jesus!

Mankind is also searching for TRUTH

TRUTH…a fact or belief that is accepted as true.

A solid foundation for life…to make sense of this life.

Truth…is trust-worthy…it is solid, it is reliable…leads to certainty

Truth…is foundational…you can build your life on truth.

Truth…is worth holding on to…never let go of truth.

The absence of Truth leads to insecurity…skepticism…cynicism, frustration and anger..

Today…the reason we are looking at today: Christ Came Down…to PROCLAIM the TRUTH.

Looking at Jesus’ own words.

As we navigate our way through life…there is so much information…literally at our finger tips.

It seems like every broadcast, podcast, every tweet and sound bite is someone else’s opinion…from their own particular angle…and often times…not necessarily truthful.

Some times we just want to scream out: “Can somebody please…just tell me the TRUTH!”

Everything/one seems to come at us with an agenda…

How do I know that what I am taking in is truth?

Where should my life be anchored?

What kind of foundation should my life be built upon?

None of us like to be deceived.

We want to make sure we are living according to the truth.

If Jesus came and said: One of the reasons I was born was…to Proclaim the Truth. Then we need to listen…and take what He says very seriously.

So today we are going to look at that very moment where Jesus from His own lips said:

He came to proclaim and to bear witness to the truth.

We find that story in John 18.

It was a time that was CLOSER TO HIS DEATH than it was closer to His birth. It is not a coincidence…that just hours before His death Jesus connects His death with His birth… He tells us WHY He was born and WHY He came into the world.

So, in John 18 Jesus is having a CONVERSATION with Pilate…

Pilate…Roman governor of Judea and…Jesus was on trial for His life.

He was on trial was because Jesus was a threat to the religious leaders of the day…

He was a threat to their “theology in a box” type of religion.

So they wanted to get rid of Him.

But under Roman rule they did not have the authority.ability to execute a criminal.

So they had to drum up charges against Him to hopefully convince Pilate to sentence Jesus to death.

So they brought Jesus to Pilate and

Pilate INVESTIGATES inquires & engages Jesus in a very interesting conversation that will lead to Jesus making a PROCLAMATION…and an INVITATION

We will hear Jesus’ words in context …and then connect them back to the Christmas story.

As you think about…what is your life founded upon?…Seriously consider Jesus’ words:

1. The INVESTIGATION by Pilate…John 18:33-35

Starting in John18:33 we are told:

John 18:33

“So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Pilate asks a great question…trying to get at the IDENTITY of Jesus…WHO Jesus is.

Pilates concern?

“Is this guy a threat to me…my leadership…my rule…my kingdom? Is He a rebel? What’s His motive? What has He done?

But Pilate is asking a very profound question…because he is asking about the IDENTITY of Jesus!

BTW…all of us need to be willing to wrestle with…the IDENTITY of Jesus?

Who is this guy…Jesus?

What gives Him the right to say what He says and do what He does?

And Jesus in response to Pilate’s question did what He often does…He asks another question.

John 18:34

“Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?”

“Are you echoing what you have heard others say?

Or is this what you actually think about Me?

Jesus is making it personal for Pilate. Are you going by what others have said?

Pilate…trying to figure out if He is a threat.

But Jesus turns the conversation to Pilate’s heart.

And Jesus is saying: Do you say this of your own accord? Pilate, do you think that I am the king?

In other words: Pilate, who do you say that I am?

BTW…Jesus asks us the same question today: WHO do YOU say Jesus is?

Some see Jesus as a GUILT reliever…someone to turn to after doing something I shouldn’t have and feel better about myself.

Some turn to Jesus as a COMFORTER…when going through a difficult time. Neither is are wrong…but they are incomplete.

Others view Jesus as a GENIE IN A BOTTLE…rub the lamp when things aren’t going well or I need something…but we never think about Jesus atany other time except when we are in need.

Others think of Jesus as a GOOD TEACHER/EXAMPLE to emulate my life after.

Jesus is asking Pilate Who do you say that I am? Do you believe I am a king?

Have you wrestled with that question.

Who do you say that Jesus truly is?

(Who you believe Jesus to be…will determine what and how you celebrate at Christmas.)

The ping-pong conversation continues…asking each other questions…and no one has yet answered.

John 18:35

“Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”

Pilate tries to keep the conversation political-legal…to see if Jesus is a threat to him politically.

We finally get an answer to a question.

Jesus goes back to the first question: Are you a King? “Ok…Let Me tell you about…My Kingdom.”

2. The PROCLAMATION of Jesus…John 18:36-37

John 18:36

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world.”

Jesus says “My Kingdom…” 3x! {You don’t say that…unless you consider yourself a King!}

Imagine if I said: “Let me tell you about my kingdom…” (You’d think I lost a brick or two)

The writer C.S. Lewis’ asked a probing question… “Is Jesus a Lunatic, Liar or Lord?”

So Jesus is answers Pilate in the affirmative.

“But Pilate…I am not the kind of King that you think I am…not the kind of King you are familiar with.”

“Pilate, I am not coming as an earthly king…because My kingdom is not of this world.

“Pilate…if My kingdom were of this world My servants…would be defending Me”

“I am a King, Pilate…but not the kind of King that you think.

Do you understand the type of King that Jesus truly is?

Jesus says: I am this type of king and this is why I was born and why I have come into the world.

John 18:37

“Then Pilate said to Him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

(Christmas verse…in the middle of Easter story).

Pilate, I have stepped from outside of this world, outside of time and I have stepped into time and into this world and I was born to be a King. Not only to be a King…but I came to proclaim that truth and to proclaim that reality and to bear witness to the truth that I am a King

Who do you say Jesus is? Do you recognize this morning that Jesus was born to be a King?

OT SCRIPTURES POINT TO JESUS THE KING

Isaiah 9:6-7 prophesied that the coming Messiah would be King and He will reign forevermore.

Jeremiah 23:5 Jeremiah prohesied of a King who would be righteous

THE GOSPELS POINT TO JESUS THE KING

Luke 1:30-33 angel described for Mary the child she would give birth to “of His Kingdom there will be no end.”

Matthew 2:1-2 Why were the magi searching for Jesus?

Because they recognized a King had been born and they had come to worship the newborn King!

And here from His very own lips…just before His death…Jesus gives this Christmas verse.

“For this purpose I was born (Christmas)…and for this purpose I have come into the world…(Christmas) I have done this and needed to do this to be a King. I have done and needed to do this to bear witness to this truth.

But…WHY DID He have to do it in Person?

Why couldn't God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) just have sent another book of the Bible?

Why not just send another Messenger?

Why not just send another Prophet?

Why not send an Angel?…God has used angels to deliver and proclaim messages…

Why did Jesus have to be born and why did He have to come into the world to bear witness to this truth?

It has everything to do with…

THE TYPE OF KING JESUS CAME TO BE…

Why didn’t God just send another messenger?

Why did Jesus have to be born?

Why did He have to come into the world?

Why did it have to be done in person? To bear witness to this truth… It has everything to do with the TYPE of King that Jesus is and the TRUTH He is to proclaim.

a. This King came into the world…to be KNOWN by You…

Try to get an audience with King Charles…they keep you at a distance…

Jesus didn’t come so we could know Him from a distance…not just to be a figurehead

Jesus didn’t come into the world to give us another philosophy…

Jesus didn’t come to just give us more religious instruction…

b. This King came into the world…to SERVE not to Be Served…Mark 10:45

c. This King came to SEEK and to SAVE the lost…Luke 19:10

d. This King came to GIVE His life…as a ransom for many, take care of the sin problem that separates.

e. This King was BORN to die…He needed to come & proclaim & live this truth in person!

Hebrews 10:5–7

“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, He said, “Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but a body have you prepared for Me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God, as it is written of Me in the scroll of the book.’ ”

Another Christmas verse!!

If all God desired was sacrifices and offerings then we could just go through a bunch of religious activity & jump through religious hoops then we would be fine with God…but since that was not God’s plan…

Jesus said “…a body You have prepared for Me…” Jesus needed a body…

And in order to have a body…Jesus needed to be born… born to die.

The body He would be given…would be sacrificed for your sins and for mine.

You cannot separate the birth of Jesus from the death of Jesus.

We get so excited & so comfortable with the baby in a manger…but not so much with Jesus on the cross.

But we have to connect the two.

Hebrews 10:10

“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

sanctified…made right, holy before God through the offering of the body of Jesus once and for all.

That is the kind of King that Jesus came to be…

That kind of King that would give His life as a ransom for many.

Jesus paid it all!

He said that’s why I came…that’s the truth I bear witness to…the truth that I am proclaiming.

It is the absolute truth…the ultimate truth…not just spiritual truth, not just religious truth…

But it is foundational truth which our world view should be shaped around.

John 18:37

37 Then Pilate said to Him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

“For this purpose…I was born…for this purpose I have come into the world…”

Do you see the purpose of God in Christ Jesus the King?

3. The INVITATION from Jesus… “…everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

An INVITATION from Jesus for all to come receive and believe and to accept the Truth.

Everyone…not just people who have their lives figured out…whose lives are put together…not just for people in a certain part of the world…or a certain group…but for everyone…who is of the truth

A couple weeks ago we looked at Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him and he with Me.”

If King Charles were to call me up and ask me to dinner I would go. I would want to hear what He has to say…how much more when the King of Kings calls on me…I will listen to His voice.

The Response of Pilate…{Don’t be like Pilate}

Jesus is doing a heart work with Pilate…probing into what he thinks & believes about Jesus.

Do you know what Pilate’s response was to Jesus proclamation and invitation becomes?

John 18:38

“Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in Him.”

Pilate comes and responds: “What is truth?”

And he doesn’t wait for an answer. He walks out and the conversation ends in that moment.

Pilate didn’t answer the question…nor did he wait for an answer.

But the question still lingers out there for us all to answer.

What is truth?

But if we understand the reality of why Jesus came…I think the better question Pilate should have asked…is WHO IS TRUTH?

Because Jesus, by coming in the flesh, is the one proclaiming and bearing witness to the truth and He invites us to come and see that He is the Truth!

Jesus said

John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus said… “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So the the better question is not What is truth…but rather WHO IS TRUTH…Jesus is the Truth.

The answer Jesus gives …we all must wrestle with, whether today or some point in our lives….we have to ask the question

Who is Jesus and who do you believe that He is?

Is He a LUNATIC…LIAR…of is He LORD…the King of kings?

Friends…We will miss God…if we miss Jesus.

If we are looking anywhere else other than Jesus to understand this life…and the reality of who God is...we are looking in the wrong place.

People are looking all over the place for TRUTH…looking for the reality of who God is…

RELIGION…

PHILOSOPHY…

POLITICS…

Do you know where else they are looking for the truth and understand the reality of who God is?

SELF…Inward…looking to their own wounded, and experience driven hearts to try to make sense of the world and the reality of who God is. And I am sure you know this: Our wounded, experience driven hearts don’t often tell us the truth. Are you looking for truth inwardly? Or are you allowing Jesus who is outside of time and outside of this world who stepped into this world and stepped into our lives to be the One to help us understand the reality of what and who Truth truly is. As you wrestle with that this morning this Christmas season…

WRAP UP…

Are you living according to the truth that Jesus is Your King?

That’s why He came…that’s why He was born…that’s why we celebrate this time of year.

Is your life aligned with that reality?

My challenge to you:

Will you listen and align your life with the words of Jesus?

Or will you allow your circumstances and your wounded, experience driven heart to determine what the ultimate truth is in your own life?

Maybe you know and believe this is true…but you have taken it for granted…and your life does not reflect the reality that Jesus is your King.

He is a King who wants you to KNOW Him.

He is a King who gave Himself for you…to save you from your sin.

He is a King who wants your OBEDIENCE.

He is a King who desires your SURRENDER.