Today we write the date ‘2026’ on a document or on a screen without a second thought.
Have you considered why it's 2026? Two thousand and twenty-six years after what? It must mark something significant.
The world’s most widely used calendar is based on the birth of Jesus about 2026 years ago, it is as simple as that.
Jesus did not rule an empire. He never commanded an army. He never held political office in fact, he lived a relatively short quiet life in the Roman Empire around the Galilee area. But your history is marked by his life, not that of ‘greats’ such as Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Confucius or Churchill. And when historians look into the past, they discover that the existence of Jesus is not only recorded in the bible but in other writings, Roman and Jewish historians also mention him. One Roman historian recorded that Jesus was executed under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. I looked for the evidence for this and found it was written by Publius Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman senator and historian writing in The Annals around AD 116. In Book 15, chapter 44, Tacitus refers to Christians and says: “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus. Tacitus was not a Christian — he was hostile to Christianity — so he wasn’t repeating church tradition. Another Roman governor described early Christian’s meeting before dawn and singing to Christ as to a God. A Jewish historian referred to James as “the brother of Jesus who is called Christ.”
These references come from people who were not Christians and had no interest in promoting Christian belief, they were just recording facts of that time, publishing it in their newspapers if you will. But they confirm that Jesus lived, that he was executed, and that his followers spread quickly through the Roman world. So, from a historical perspective, there is no question Jesus existed. Most historians today agree that he did. But another question naturally follows: why did the life of this one man have such an extraordinary impact even today? So, it’s 2026. That means the entire world is (unknowingly) counting time from the birth of Christ. Even people who don’t believe in God are still living in a world shaped by Jesus.
While many people possess a Bible, few actually open it, and even fewer take the time to explore and understand the message that is meant for everyone—including you. Tell your sceptical friend, “Forget the world around you, stand under the searchlight of God. That light is on you. Forget what your puzzled mates might think, they will also have their own chance to stand under that beam or turn away!” That light, that message right now is for you alone, to turn to, to listen to and to accept. Why would you walk away from this God-given free gift? Where else is there to go, who else is there to turn to in this year of our Lord 2026?
Just take a look; Israel shouldn’t even exist — but it does
A tiny nation the size of Wales dominates world attention. Empires have risen and fallen, yet Israelis are back in their land again, exactly what the Bible said would happen. The Jews are still there
Most ancient peoples disappeared into history. But the Jewish people survived thousands of years of scattering and persecution and stayed distinct. The Bible said they would. Jerusalem is still the most argued-over city on earth. The Bible doesn’t promise heaven — it promises a restored earth
The Bible teaches the earth is God’s plan, and Christ will return to rule here. That message is constant throughout the bible and makes sense. Jesus is too significant to be a myth
A poor carpenter from an obscure land that shaped history, changed the world’s morals, and left a teaching without comparison in clarity and authority. That deserves a second look. The Bible’s message holds together from start to finish
Written over many centuries, yet it tells one connected story: creation, sin, promise, Christ, kingdom. It reads like one plan, not random religion, or a fairy story. The Bible offers real hope, not vague comfort
You don’t float away 'up there' when you die, but resurrection, justice, peace, and a world made right will reign. It answers the biggest question of all: what is life all about?
