Truth About Christmas: Why Jesus Was Born

When we think about Christmas, our minds often drift to twinkling lights, wrapped presents, family gatherings, and the familiar nativity scene. But have you ever stopped to consider why Jesus was actually born? What if the most profound truth about Christmas isn't found in the manger scene at all, but in an unexpected conversation that happened just hours before the crucifixion?

A King Before Time Began
In John 18:37, during one of the darkest moments in human history, Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate and made a remarkable declaration: "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth."
Think about that statement for a moment. Jesus wasn't simply born like you and me. While we all had a beginning point at conception, Jesus has always existed. He is the Creator who spoke light into existence. He is the one through whom all things were made, and apart from Him, nothing was created that has been created.
This is the stunning reality of Christmas: the Creator chose to become created. The one outside of time stepped into time. The King of kings willingly entered our world as a helpless infant.

Two Natures, One Purpose
When Jesus told Pilate, "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this," He was highlighting something extraordinary. The phrase "I was born" speaks to His full humanity. Jesus experienced everything we experience—hunger, exhaustion, temptation, and ultimately, death. He was truly, completely human.
But the phrase "I have come into the world" reveals something more. It indicates that Jesus came from somewhere else, from another realm. He didn't begin at Bethlehem. He came from the throne of heaven, from eternity past. He is both fully God and fully man—a mystery that all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, points toward.
The ancient prophet Daniel called Him "the Ancient of Days." John's Gospel opens with these powerful words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This Word, this Jesus, became flesh and dwelt among us.

The Purpose That Changes Everything
So why did Jesus come? What was His purpose in being born?
"To testify to the truth."
In a world where everyone claims to have "their truth," where relativism reigns and objective reality is questioned, this statement lands with revolutionary force. Jesus came to show us what truth actually is. Not truth as a philosophical concept, not truth as personal preference, but Truth with a capital T—absolute, eternal, unchanging reality.
And what is this truth Jesus came to reveal? The truth about who God is. The truth about how we were made to live in relationship with our Creator. The truth that we have all rebelled and gone our own way. And most importantly, the truth that God has provided a way back to Himself through the death and resurrection of His Son.
This is truth that matters more than any equation or scientific fact. This is eternal truth that determines our destiny.

The People of Truth
Jesus concluded His statement to Pilate with these words: "Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
This is the litmus test. This is how we know whether we truly belong to Jesus. Those who are "of the truth" don't just acknowledge truth intellectually—they love it. They hunger for it. They listen to Jesus' voice through His Word.
Consider this challenging question: Do you have a love for God's Word? Not just an academic interest, but a genuine desire to know it, to meditate on it, to let it shape your life?
Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Freedom comes through truth. Real, lasting freedom isn't found in doing whatever we want. It's found in submitting to the One who is Truth. When we continue in His Word, when we love His truth, we discover freedom from the sin that enslaves us, freedom from the lies that bind us, freedom to become who we were created to be.

Missing Truth While Standing in Front of It
After Jesus made His declaration about truth, Pilate asked a haunting question: "What is truth?" Then he walked away.
Pilate was standing directly in front of Truth incarnate—and he missed it.
This happens more often than we'd like to admit. People can attend Christmas services, hear the Gospel, even know the Christmas story by heart, and still miss Jesus. They bump into truth without ever truly meeting the King.
There's a difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. There's a difference between celebrating a holiday and surrendering your life to the one the holiday is about.

The Joy That Lies Ahead
The writer of Hebrews tells us that "for the joy set before him," Jesus "endured the cross." Even in the darkest moment, facing unimaginable suffering, Jesus held onto joy. Why? Because He knew what lay ahead—resurrection, victory over death, and the redemption of all who would believe.
This is the joy of Christmas that transcends circumstances. It's not dependent on perfect family gatherings or financial abundance. It's the joy of knowing Truth, of belonging to the King, of having hope that extends beyond this life into eternity.

A Christmas Challenge
As we approach Christmas, don't let the holiday overshadow the majesty of what actually happened. The Creator of the universe became a baby. The King of kings chose poverty and humility. The source of all life willingly went to death—all to testify to the truth and to provide a way for us to be reconciled to God.
The question isn't whether truth exists. The question is whether you'll recognize it, embrace it, and allow it to transform your life.
Jesus didn't come just to be a nice moral teacher or to give us warm feelings during the holidays. He came to testify to the truth, to die for our sins, and to offer us eternal life.
This Christmas, will you simply bump into Jesus, or will you truly meet the King?