Are you a witness?

There was once a time when the world knew not of its Savior. Yet there was hope because it had been foretold that a child would be born and called Emmanuel – God is with us. In Lent, we prepare for his coming anew. During this season, we discover for ourselves the call of salvation and the promise of eternal life.

He came to them as a stranger. He would soon become their friend. Then, he served as their teacher and he taught them the truth; he showed them the truth.

And now it was time for him to leave.

“I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (John 16:28)

Now that Jesus was leaving, how would the apostles describe Jesus to those who had never known him? Because it is from them we know Jesus.

Peter was among the first of the apostles. Later, Jesus would say that Peter was the rock upon which his church would be built. Thereafter, Jesus came upon Nathaniel alone and sitting under a tree. He had observed that Nathaniel was a man in whom there was no deception. Jesus encountered Matthew who was working as a tax collector for the state. He dined with Matthew despite protests from community leaders who objected to Matthew’s unseemly occupation. Jesus responded by saying that he had not come to save the righteous, but the sinners.

Then there was John. John and his brother, James, were with Jesus all through his public ministry. John was with Jesus at his baptism on the River Jordan, he was him at the miracles when he healed the sick and fed the hungry, he was with him at the Transfiguration where he was revealed as the Son of God, he was with him when Lazarus was raised from the dead, he was with him at the Last Supper when he shared bread and wine in communion with the apostles, he was with him at his betrayal and subsequent arrest, and he was with him at his trial and sentencing for blasphemy. And with Mary, the mother of Jesus, along with Mary Magdalene, John was with him at the crucifixion. It was at the crucifixion where Jesus looked upon his mother from the cross and bequeathed her care to John by saying:

“Woman, behold your son.” (John 19:26)

Now, what would John say about Jesus? What would he say about all that he had witnessed of the life and times of Jesus Christ?

In fact, we know what John would say because he wrote a book, the Gospel of John. In his book, this is John’s testimony:

  • Jesus Christ is the Word of God sent to the world.
  • Jesus Christ is the light of the world and those who follow the light will have true life.
  • Jesus Christ is the Son of God and his works are God’s works.
  • Those who believe in Jesus Christ shall not perish, but have life everlasting.
  • Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.
  • Jesus Christ sends the Holy Spirit to us to be our Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, and Voice of Truth.
  • Jesus Christ was crucified and died to deliver us from sin.
  • Jesus Christ was resurrected from death to reveal the truth of eternal salvation in God’s heavenly kingdom.

John affirmed his testimony by declaring:

“This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. (John 21:24)

This is what the Gospel author, John the Apostle, says about being witness to Jesus Christ.

What do you say?

Are you a witness?

These Gospel stories are re-imagined in the book series:

Songs of the Deliverer

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