Where people are involved, there are always stories. My story, your story, and the story of the truth. What begins as a mere wonder, by the third telling, is recounted as a truth.

“I wonder if so or so is getting divorced,” says one. Three people later, “Did you hear that so or so got divorced?” That’s how stories go. Today, it’s even worse, because around every corner, someone wants to catch you out. We call it fake news.

My sister gets very angry about this and will confront you if you forward fake news. “First, make sure of your facts before you forward anything,” she always says.

It so happened that with the big fire in California, she was the one who sent a video of the South African firefighters landing at Toronto Airport to help put out the fire to our family group.

Immediately, her son replied, “Fake news! Even I know you don’t even land in Canada to go to the USA.”

We live in a world where truth is constantly under siege. I often wonder if fake news emerges accidentally or if it’s deliberately manufactured by individuals with malicious intent. Then I wonder why someone would do something like that!

In Jesus’ time and especially the time after His ascension, stories spread like wildfire. True stories with facts and, of course, also fake news. Especially about Jesus. Many wondered if He was the Saviour that the Old Testament said would come. Many knew that He definitely was the Son of God and had come to bear the burden of the world’s sins.

Many missed the news. Many just couldn’t get their heads around it and shouted out loud, “It’s fake news!” You see, the people expected another Jesus. They expected Him to rule as an earthly king and restore everything to its former glory.

John said, “Boys, Jesus is the truth. He is the Son of God. I saw Him with my own eyes. I saw the miracles He did. He died on the cross for our sins, but He also conquered death. He rose and, in the end, ascended, just like that, alive. Fortunately, He sent His Spirit to help us believe.

John said it in Biblical language: ^6–7Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God’s presence at Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us.

This is not fake news. This is the truth. The question is: what do you do with the truth? I suspect you believe it, because you’re reading this now. But are you going to live it out there? Do you forward the story of Jesus to friends and family, or do you treat it like fake news and not forward it?

Let’s make a point of telling someone today that Jesus is not fake news and that He brought you life. Maybe just by sharing the truth, you will save a life.

Scripture
1 John 5:6-13

Reflection
What was the biggest fake news you ever mistook for the truth?
What does the truth about Jesus do to your life?
Who can you tell that Jesus is definitely not fake news?

Gebed
Jesus, thank you for being the truth. Thank you for shedding your blood and for truly bearing the burden of my sin. May I never keep silent about this. Amen.