As I was reading John 18 this morning I thought about how appropriate it is that, as I start getting “cranked up” for Christmas and focusing on the wonder of Immanuel, God with us, that I should be reading about His last days on earth. As much as I love to focus on that baby in the manger, the riches of “the season” are deepened when I recognize that this baby was born to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And a phrase in John 18 kind of captures, for me, the tie between that event in Bethlehem we’re celebrating this month and the work Mary’s Son came to finish.

Jesus is before Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was the high priest. And Annas questions Jesus about His disciples and His teachings. And Jesus answers . . .

“I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them; they know what I said.” (John 18:20-21 ESV)

And it’s that phrase . . . “I have spoken openly to the world” . . . which so reflects what the Christmas season can be.

Isn’t that what that the first Christmas, 2,000 years ago, was all about? An open, public declaration of Jesus the Savior. A star visible for all who had eyes to see . . . angels declaring His coming and glory . . . all directing men to that most holy place in Bethlehem.

There was nothing secretive about that first Christmas. It wasn’t just a “what’s said in Bethlehem, stays in Bethlehem” event between Mary and Joseph and the animals in the stable. The shepherds knew about it, as did those they told. Aged Simeon and Anna knew about it. Eventually the magi would know about it . . . and so would Herod. That first public declaration by angelic beings kind of set the precedent, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize Him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12 NLT)

A public declaration . . . intended to help people recognize God’s gift to a world so in need of a gift. A public declaration . . . spoken openly for all who had ears to hear . . . the story of stories . . . given to men that they might judge for themselves . . . that they might wrestle with the facts and exercise the faith, recognizing Him as the Savior come to rescue them from sin.

As Jesus stood that day in the corrupt court of the high priest . . . as He spoke knowing what was before Him . . . as He counted down the end of His earthly ministry, He says, “Ask those who have heard me . . . ask them who I am . . . ask them what I’m about . . .ask them of the hope I bring . . . for I have spoken openly.”

And every year, during this season, there is an opening, unlike any other time of year, for Him to again speak openly (though not as openly as He once could thanks to society’s increasing “tolerance”) through those who have heard Him. Oh, that God’s Holy Spirit would use this Christmas to move some to hear Jesus as He continues to seek to reveal Himself to a lost world. That He would awaken followers of the King to the opportunities that await us over these next few weeks to speak openly of His kingdom. That the Spirit might help me to recognize when I have those open doors to be one of those disciples who can testify to what I’ve heard Him “say” through His birth . . . and of what He proclaimed through His life . . . and of what I’ve experienced Him do through His death . . . and through His resurrection . . . and through His saving grace . . . and through the new life I possess in Him . . . and through the hope given by the living promise of His coming again . . . for His glory. Amen?