Do You Desire To Bear Witness To The Truth?

Thursday of the 4th week of Lent

Exodus 32:7-14
John 5:31-47

Lent is a time to bear witness to the truth. What does scripture tell us about witnessing? The concept of witnessing was one of the central concepts of Jewish law and society. In the Old dispensation, it requires two or three witnesses for a testimony to be established. As scripture says, Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established,” Deuteronomy 19:15. And “Let another praise you, and not your mouth; a stranger, and not your lips,” we’re told in Proverbs 27:2.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.” John the Baptist bore witness about Jesus. He was a burning and shining lamp, and they were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” John the Baptist was the one who went before Jesus and made “straight the way of the Lord.” John the Baptist was the one who, when he saw Jesus, said to his disciples, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:22-23, 29.

CHRIST’S PUBLIC MINISTRY

In his three years of public ministry The Father, the God of the universe, the Creator Himself audibly testified about Jesus. Jesus said, “…the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me.” BAPTISM: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” He said when Jesus rose out of the water during John’s baptism. Matthew 3:13-17.

TRANSFIGURATION: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him,” Matthew 17:1-8 And GETHSAMANE: finally in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ Father answered Jesus’ prayer, directly and audibly when Jesus said, “Father glorify your name.” And God, his Father answered, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” John 12: 27-30.

THE WONDERS OF GOD

The miracles Jesus performed, miracles like no one had ever seen before, testified that Jesus came from God. In them, we have a second witness about Jesus. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.” (John 5:36).

SCRIPTURE

Jesus said in John 5:30, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me…”
Jesus made that comment more than once, that the Old Testament scriptures testified about him.

On the road to Emmaus, after his resurrection, he opened the scriptures and explained this to Cleopas and his traveling companion. “…beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself,” Jesus said that in the end, Moses would be the one to judge those disbelieving Jesus.

Because Moses wrote of Jesus. And Jesus said, “…if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

So the Pharisees were looking, but not seeing. They were looking for salvation in the right place, but not seeing Jesus there in the Old Testament scriptures. Nor did they see, even when Jesus was physically present before them. What about us too? Are we looking for something lost in the darkness without putting on the light?

Who do we bore witness to and do you know how important this could be for your salvation? The works of hands do they bear witness to God? Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say Luke 6:46, Do our actions and deeds show that we are truly Christians?

Christ established his Church and through the action of the Holy Spirit, men and women of every age have come to bear witness to Christ the way, truth, and life. Swindoll Charles R. once said, whatever we do, we must not treat the Great Commission like it’s the Great Suggestion. We are called to bear authentic to Christ.

PRAYER

Mercifully fortify us deeply with every grace we need to perpetually be authentic in our witnessing for you. May every one of our sacrificial works particularly in charity bear witness that you are our God. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho