John Christmas story

Christmas talk: 45 minutes

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What is the "reason for the season" at Christmas? Which of the following Gospels talk about the birth of Jesus?

Matthew

Herod, Magi and gifts. How, some hints of why.

Mark

Mark is Peter's Gospel. No clear mention of birth of Jesus.

Luke

Shepherds and angels. How, some hints of why.

John

John tells that Jesus was born and why Jesus was born.

More: John 18:33-38: The reason for the season

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. [kjv]

ειπεν ουν αυτω ο πιλατος ουκουν βασιλευς ει συ απεκριθη ο ιησους συ λεγεις οτι βασιλευς ειμι εγω εις τουτο γεγεννημαι και εις τουτο εληλυθα εις τον κοσμον ινα μαρτυρησω τη αληθεια πας ο ων εκ της αληθειας ακουει μου της φωνης [gnt]

Only John tells us why Jesus was born. Jesus witnesses to Pilate.

Jesus tells Pilate why he was born in John 18:37. When Jesus talks of "truth", as in the Greek and Hebrew words for truth, he is talking about the truth of reality and not of a logical true-false truth system.

[philosophy courses, Aristotle final cause]

More: John 18:33-38: The reason for the season

The world does not care about the truth of reality.

John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. [kjv]