I wanted to share some thoughts about being a witness for Jesus. I hope this blesses you.

John chapter 1 introduces Jesus as the Word that became flesh and He is the true light while also mentioning John the Baptist.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

God had chosen John and had set him apart since birth (read Luke 1). He was to prepare the way for the first coming of Jesus Christ (John 1:23). He made it very clear in verse 8 that “…he himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.”

I believe this is important for us as believers. John was to testify to the light but he himself was not the light. We must remember that we ourselves are not the light but we are to testify to the light which is Jesus Christ. We are not the saviour but we are to testify of the grace and mercy of God, in whom He sent His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.

Let’s go to Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

When Jesus tells his disciples that they are the light of the world, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the light. Jesus was explaining to them that in contrast to the world that is walking in darkness, He is the true light. The only reason we can shine the light of Christ is because of Him who dwells within in us.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

As we shine our light for Jesus, it may draw people to us but are we going to be like John who understood that his mission was to testify about Jesus Christ, the Messiah? Or do we testify to ourselves? Instead of people following Jesus, we’ve made our own followers? We must remember that everything we do should bring glory to God and not ourselves.

The word “testify” means “to serve as evidence or proof that something exists or is the case.”

It can be similar to having to testify in a court case. In which they call that person a witness. A witness is someone who testifies or gives evidence of something that has happened.

The bible also calls us to be witnesses.

1. A witness testifies to what they have seen

After Jesus had resurrected and spent time with his disciples, he reminds them of the Holy Spirit who will be with them when he returns to the Father.

In Acts 1:8 it says,

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

If there’s one thing that you should take away from this, it should be that it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to testify.

The disciples were witnesses because they had walked with Jesus. They had been disciples of Jesus for 3 ½ years. They’ve seen him teach, rebuke, lay hands on the sick, perform miracles, die on the cross, resurrected and ascended into heaven.

In Matthew 28:18-19 they were given a mission to go into the world.

It was after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that the disciples began to testify and the gospel spread beyond Jerusalem after the first act of persecution.

They were testifying about what they had seen. As Christians, we testify to what we have seen Jesus do in our lives but we call it a testimony.

When we share our testimony about how Christ has transformed our lives, we don’t share it to convince people to follow Jesus but to show others how powerful Jesus is.

Our testimony isn’t a substitute for the gospel and there shouldn’t be a hierarchy in our minds about which testimony is better. When we compare our testimonies, we lose sight of the reason why we’re sharing it in the first place.

It should point to Jesus and regardless of what your testimony is about, how long it is or what you’ve done before receiving salvation – Jesus should be glorified at the end of the day.

2. A witness must give primary evidence

Imagine an event has already taken place and you are asked to be a witness. Someone asked you about what was your version of the event or what did you remember. I can assure you, they would not want you to share what somebody else has said.

Just like in a court case, the judge would not want to hear what “so and so” has said. That becomes hearsay. When we testify about Jesus and share our testimony about Him, it comes from a place of personal revelation.

Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew 16:13-18 about who do people say that He is.

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.

He asked them, who do people say that the Son of Man is? They gave answers and then he asks them, but who do you say that I am. Even though it’s encouraging to hear about other people’s revelations, their journey and their testimony. There comes a point in our Christian journey where we must ask ourselves who is Jesus? Not who is Jesus to our parents, friends, pastor or what others say about Jesus…but who is Jesus Christ to you?

Peter’s answer wasn’t a textbook answer, Jesus said: “…for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven”. It was an answer that God had revealed to him.

We know who Jesus is by reading God’s Word. It’s through intimacy with God, that we know His heart. The Holy Spirit gives us understanding when we are willing to submit to Him and lean not on our own wisdom or intellect.

You need to have a personal revelation about Jesus because when you face situations, you need to know within your heart that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and that our hope is in Him.

3. A witness must share the truth

In films and tv shows, we might see people raising up their hands and swearing before the judge that they promise to say the truth and nothing but the truth. Although we don’t swear to anyone, we still are required to share the truth and nothing but the truth.

This may be difficult in our modern world today where people have different belief systems but the bible encourages us to share the truth whether the time is favourable or unfavourable. Paul urges Timothy because there will be a time where people will not listen to sound doctrine and instead will rather follow those who will tickle their ears. In other words, preach things that their flesh will desire to hear (2 Tim 4:2-4).

It’s not that people don’t know the truth, it because the truth reveals how sinful man is, and how they are unrighteous before a righteous God.

As Christians, we must share the truth of God’s word and that means in its full entirety. We shouldn’t share half of God’s word or cherry-pick what should be applied to our lives. The word of God shouldn’t be compromised nor should it be watered down.

The word of God is truth. Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world. He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

God bless,
Susan.