Today's Gospel (Jn 1:19-28): This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, «Who are you?». John recognized the truth and did not deny it. He said, «I am not the Messiah». And they asked him, «Then who are you? Elijah?». He answered, «I am not». They said, «Are you the Prophet?». And he answered, «No». Then they said to him, «Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?». And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, «I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord».
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Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question to John: «Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?». John answered, «I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal». This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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John the Baptizer was the first recorded live witness to Jesus.
Notice that he said, "among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me".
Jesus does stand among us yet today; particularly among those who love and witness for him.
:confused:So, do you witness for Jesus?:confused:
:confused:If so how?:confused:
:)Peace and kindness,:)
Fred (arcura)

Hey, arcura -

I have personally gone round and round in my mind about this topic and is one that perplexes me for different reasons.

For one thing, the idea of being a witness for Christ is not a particularly universal one-size-fits-all concept because in modern American, Christian culture, to be a witness conjures up different meanings depending upon who you ask. For example, to one person being a witness means demonstrating acts of charity and love towards unbelievers with the hope that they will want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Another person's rendering of being a witness means to go and proclaim by word of mouth the changes that God has wrought in him/her—I have witnessed God's transforming miracle in me and I should go and proclaim the miracle to others. I think there is a 3rd view of being a witness for Christ which is found in the gospels, but is different from our modern view of what it means…this is my belief, anyway.

When I look at the gospels, particularly Luke's gospel, I see a pattern evolving throughout Christ's ministry. Initially, Christ called disciples to him and spent time teaching them about the Kingdom of God. In order to authenticate that his message from God was true, God the Father at very key moments gave Jesus the authority and power to perform miracles. It is my understanding that the purpose for Jesus performing the miracles was to give credibility to his message…(I will use my own paraphrase) “I am He of whom it is written. He who receives my word receives my Father, for I and my Father are one.” The issue was Jesus is teaching that he has seen the father and the Father has sent him. Anyone in his right mind would be a little skeptical because so many people had come before Jesus claiming to be the Messiah (indeed, still many do today). So how could someone bank on the fact that he was the Messiah, you may ask? Well, if someone were to claim to be sent from God and backed up that claim with a miracle so profound as raising someone from the dead, giving sight to the blind, feeding several thousand people with fish and bread, controlling the wind, walking on water, you may begin to take that person seriously and not discredit his message. I think that in so credentialing Jesus, God was in effect giving people a surety that God was indeed with Jesus.

In my picture of the New Testament, being a witness of Jesus is being visibly present to hear him teach, perform miracles, and observe his life. All of these reasons are reasons the disciples of Jesus relied upon when they went out into the world to proclaim his message. People could ask “how can we know these things you tell us are true?” To which the disciples could reply “well, we are witnesses of these things.” The question then becomes, what about us today? Can we be witnesses of Jesus in the sense that the disciples were witnesses? I don't think so because we have never seen him nor heard him teach nor seen him perform miracles. Perhaps we are witnesses in a vastly different sense. Why do I believe the gospel is true in spite of the fact that I have not met Christ face-to-face? Perhaps we are witnesses in the sense that we (meaning those of us who believe and have investigated the bible and have concluded it to be true and are committed to it) have seen something in the bible that has shaped our thinking and has radically affected the way we see reality and life itself. Perhaps we are really testifiers rather than witnesses…testifiers in that if we have experienced the grace of God in our lives then we have come to believe that God is good and that he is merciful. Someone could still ask “how do you know that for sure?” To quote Peter, “…be always ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you.” We are called to divide the word of truth and discover its meaning and with God's help we will be able to because the Spirit of God “will lead us into all truth.” For those who are yet outside of the faith, we who are sure of the word can appeal to them through our understanding of the mercy and grace of God and through the Spirit, give a reasonable argument for the truth. Ultimately, we will leave the work of the miracle of faith to the Spirit of God.

What say you?

Yes, I am a witness. And I believe Jakester has pretty much covered what a witness is.

We have "seen" the power and glory of Jesus in our lives.

Probably the most common (and effective) witnesses of our redeemer is being "the salt of the earth" and "lights on a hill". That is, to serve the Lord with GLADNESS. Burdened and sour Christians don't attract people to God. Those who have discovered the freedom of living in God's kingdom, all His benefits, all His love and the outcome of that love described in the 23 Psalm are the things that attract (or make envious) what we have in Jesus.

jakester,
I say that you have hit the nail on the head.
With the Holy Spirits help we do what we can in the way we can at each opportunity to witness and let the Holy Spirit carry the ball from then on.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

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Originally Posted by arcura

:confused:So, do you witness for Jesus?:confused:

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I do my best.

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:confused:If so how?:confused:

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As a Catholic, we are taught to witness to Jesus in our works. We are taught to witness to Jesus by obedience to His commands to Love God and Love neighbor.

Love God:
By worshipping corporately, in the Mass where we proclaim His death until He comes and we glorify Him with one mind and mouth.

And privately in our prayers and devotions.

Love Neighbor:
By faithful attendance to the needs of our families which are our immediate neighbors and of our parish brothers and sisters which are our proximate neighbors and of all other people as possible. Doing all to the glory of God that they may see our works and glorify God.

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:)Peace and kindness,:)
Fred (arcura)

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And to you,
Sincerely,

De Maria

De Maria,
Thanks for that, to the point, very good answer.
Happy New Year,
Fred