The Ultimate Testimony

For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.  John 18:37  NASB

To bear witness – Why did Yeshua come?  What was His purpose?  What did He accomplish?  Far too often we jump to ready-made answers rather than even listening to His own explanation.  We assert that “He came to save our souls,” or “He came to forgive sins,” or “He came sacrifice Himself.”  But listen to what He says.  “I came to bear witness to the truth.”  What does that imply?  Doesn’t it imply that the truth was already known and that He is testifying as to its veracity?  Doesn’t it imply that His life confirms, corroborates, demonstrates and attests to something already present?  When we suggest that He came to provide forgiveness, aren’t we suggesting that forgiveness of this kind wasn’t available prior to His action?  But is that what He says?

The context of His statement is important.  Yeshua doesn’t make this statement while teaching His disciples.  He doesn’t say these words when He is on trial before the high priest.  Do you know when He says He is a witness?  When He stands before Pilate!  In the same sentence when He says, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  What is the context?  The context is Pilate’s question, “So You are a king?”  Yeshua’s response is the affirmation that He is in fact a king.  The entire statement about His purpose, His being born into this world, is a statement about the truth that He is king.  “Every one who is of the truth hears My voice,” He concludes.  Shema.  They hear and they obey.  That is the sign of being under a king.

You might find it interesting that the Greek verb here is martyreo.  To bear witness is to be martyred.  The witness in death is the one true testimony.

Now we might need to make some revisions in our Christology.  Apparently Yeshua Himself tells us that the primary purpose of His coming is to attest to His kingship.  The primary purpose is not to forgive sins, not to save us from our pitiful state, not to get us to heaven.  The primary purpose is to verify that He is king over all the earth.  Facing death, He asserts that these actions will indisputably establish His role as king.  What is the truth that He is witness to?  That He reigns.  That He rules.  And that there is no other.

Perhaps our preoccupation with our own desire to find a guilt eraser has obscured us from the ultimate message.  Yeshua is not simply Savior.  He is Lord!  And those who hear/obey Him are members of His kingdom.  That is the truth!

Topical Index:  to bear witness, martyreo, purpose, truth, king, John 18:37