What does it mean to be a WITNESS??

[Russell Roberts]

Over time, the meaning of the word 'witness' has come to mean avoiding behavior that will be criticized by non-believers. The idea is that, by setting a good example, others will see our great example and become Christians. Is this consistent with the use of the word in scripture? Well, no, it isn't.

If this was the meaning, Jesus would have avoided wine altogether like John the Baptist. His drinking and feasting served as the basis for the Pharisees accusation that Jesus was a glutton and a winebibber. We see here that Jesus didn't always attempt to avoid behavior that would be criticized in the hopes that others would see his exemplary behavior and become Christians (often, quite the opposite was the case).

So what does it really mean to be a witness? Think lawcourt. A witness simply testifies to the truth. In our case, that means testifying to the truth that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all creation. We stand as witnesses to a fact in a court of law where the entire world is on trial.

Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would empower them to become witnesses (the greek word is marturos, where we get the word martyr). When the Holy Spirit came and empowered them, they went throughout the world attesting to the simple fact that Jesus was the Lord and Savior - and neither Caesar or anybody else was (in those days this was quite a risky proposition as Caesar also claimed to be Lord and Savior). (Note where Paul is proclaiming the gospel at the end of Acts!)

Jesus had previously told his disciples that they would be brought before kings and rulers and that the Holy Spirit would tell them what to say. This capacity to be a witness had absolutely nothing to do with what kind of exemplary life they lived, however true that may be, but had to do with testifying (acting as a witness) to a simple truth. Jesus Christ is Lord.