Can I Get a Witness?

As we look back over John’s writing about the last evening the disciples had with Jesus, there is a sense of

anxiousness mixed in with assurance;

a sadness which will precede salvation;

pain and suffering before praises and shouts. 

Even though what Jesus was about to endure could not possibly be imagined, Christ’s concern was for the preparation of the disciples to continue proclaiming the Good News.

We are so blessed to be partakers of the promises that were given to the disciples.  In this world, we also are not alone if we are followers of Jesus Christ.  Today, we’re going to look at the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives as promised by Jesus to His disciples the night He was going to be taken captive.  

There is so much which the Holy Spirit does in the life of a Christian.  However, we’re going to look specifically at the empowering activity which takes place in the life of a Christian as we witness or testify to others about the Good News of Jesus Christ.  You see, we are given the Holy Spirit, not just for our personal benefit, but that we would go forth into the world and tell a lost and dying world of the works and words of Jesus Christ and how He desires to save them from their sin.  And we must not do this in hostility.  We must confront the lost person with graciousness, love, and compassion. 

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim. 2:24–26)

The title of this message is “Can I Get a Witness?”  This is a colloquial question that implies that one is looking for another person to agree and serve as proof that what was said is accurate.  We may also have heard a similar phrase which simply says, “Testify!”  In other words, speak out and let others know what you need to say.  

So, it is helpful to understand what is meant by the word witness.  The word in the Greek actually is translated testify.  It is pronounced martureo, which is the word from which we get the word martyr.  The verb means to give evidence as a witness in a law court.

We are, in essence, called upon by God, to continue His ministry on this earth, just as His disciples were called to do.  If that’s the case, then knowing His purpose to save people from their sins and to provide eternal life through His finished work on the cross and His resurrection, then it seems logical that our calling would be to proclaim the Good News to a lost and dying world.  This is impossible without His Holy Spirit empowering and enabling us to accomplish this. 

We are to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to this world.

Witness from the Father - 15:26a

When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father . . .

Throughout the Bible, the Father has given testimony about the Son, Jesus Christ.  All the way back to Genesis 1:1, we see the Son as part of the Triune Godhead involved with creation.  We know that Moses wrote about the Son.  The prophets spoke of His first advent when He would be born on this earth, as well as His second advent when He will come to rule.  Christ is seen even in the Psalms.

We also know that all the miracles which Jesus did, He did in obedience to the Father.  He even claimed that they were the works of His Father.  Even Peter stated the same thing in his famous presentation at Pentecost in Acts 2:22:

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— . . . 

Even while Jesus was walking this earth, the Father openly testified of the Son.  We see this in Matthew 17:5: 

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”  

Now, in today’s short section, the Father testifies by the promise of sending the Holy Spirit.  This is also further evidence that all that Jesus had done on the cross was acceptable to the Father.  Not only was Jesus raised from the dead, He ascended to the Father, then the Spirit was sent afterwards.  Listen to what the writer of Hebrews states: 

. . . how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.  

But the Holy Spirit is not just a witness from the Father about Jesus.  It is also obviously clear that the Holy Spirit's testimony is primarily all about Jesus.

Witness About Jesus - 15:26b

. . . He will testify about Me . . .

This is an excellent reminder to the true Church of Jesus Christ.  Our testimony and witness is to be all about Jesus.  Our focus should not be on politics.  Our emphasis should not be on social equality or equity.  Our spotlight should not be on ethnic privilege or lack thereof.  Neither should our pursuit be that of an emotional/psychological improvement program.  Unless our witness and testimony is about Jesus Christ, everything else, to quote the old song by Kansas, is “Just Dust In the Wind.”  

Paul was quite clear about this in 1 Corinthians 2:2: 

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 

Even those who are martyred (remember that word?) during the tribulation period are referred to this in Revelation 17:6: 

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.  

What does it mean to testify about Jesus or to Witness about Jesus?  It certainly is not about trying to figure out what someone’s perceived needs are.  It is definitely not about helping people to feel good or comfortable with spiritual things or activities.  Yet, it must involve helping people to understood the holiness of Jesus Christ.  It requires sharing what Jesus did and why He did it and why it was necessary.  However, we cannot stop there.  It requires that we lovingly point out the sinfulness that is inherent within all of humanity.  It is essential that we point out the hopelessness of anyone who does not yet know Jesus.  We dare not gloss over the depravity of mankind, lest we try to find ourselves acceptable enough.  Unless a person recognizes that they are drowning, they will not understand why they need a life preserver.  Unless a person knows that they are condemned and a prisoner to evil, they will not sense a desire to be set free and declared innocent.  This is the message of repentance which Peter preached in Acts 3:19: 

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord . . .  

You see, the witness must be about Jesus.  We really have no business immersing ourselves in any other area of culture except the proclamation, the witness, the testifying about Jesus.  I am reminded of Paul’s words in Galatians 1:8–9: 

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 

I understand that it might seem to some, proper and even somewhat spiritual to spend a great deal of time discussing race relations and white privilege or some other hot topic.  Yet, my heart is grieved when that happens, when I consider that this is not once brought up in the Bible.  My heart even aches when I consider the seeming piety that goes along with this, while there is a whole world around that is heading for hell simply because so many Christians are more concerned about racial or economic issues than about testifying about Jesus Christ.  Only Jesus brings reconciliation.  And for those who suggest that there is still a lack of understanding and acceptance among Christians, I would counter that this is because those believers have not totally submitted themselves to the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.  

Witness Through Christians - 15:27

. . . and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Now we come to where Jesus is very specific in His instructions.  Jesus has been explaining the Holy Spirit’s Witness or Testifying about Him.  Now, Jesus states to the disciples that they will also testify or be a witness.  As many scholars explain that one cannot really separate the two.  The only way in which the Christian is able to be a witness or to testify, is if the Holy Spirit is working within us to make it happen.  And what made the apostles qualified to be witnesses was the fact that they had been with Jesus from the very beginning.

So, obviously that lets us off the hook; we’re not responsible to be witnesses.  Right?  Absolutely wrong!  We are told numerous times throughout the New Testament that we are to point people to the Bible so they can see the proofs that are there about Jesus.  We point people to the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in our own lives.  This is seen in Romans 6:4:

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  

Then we remember what Paul said about the role which has been given to us as witnesses for Jesus Christ in Romans 10:14-17: 

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?  How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”  However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  

Wrap Up

Warren Wiersbe summarizes this passage quite simply: 

The Spirit testifies to the Christian, who then witnesses to others.  

In this section, we have observed that the role of the Holy Spirit is to testify or to give witness to that which involves Jesus.  Plus, Jesus reminded the disciples and us that this also becomes our role of testifying or giving witness about Christ to the people all around us.  Thus, the Spirit works within us, even as we work on behalf of Christ.  Quite simply, that work is to point others to Jesus; or to point out Jesus to others.  What a privilege to work together with the Holy Spirit in proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to a lost and dying world.  

Very simply, we are to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to this world.  We have the witness of Christ and the Holy Spirit within us.  God has called people throughout the ages, from all backgrounds of life, to testify and to be a witness for his glory.  So maybe the question should not be “Can I Get a Witness?”  Maybe a better question would be from the old spiritual,

“Who Will Be a Witness for my Lord?”

We are to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to this world.