A Thought from the Bishop’s Chapel – Thursday, March 26

 

When testimony is mentioned, we think of a courtroom.  A witness gives testimony, and without testimony there is no proof, no verdict, no judgment.  A court seeks the truth and comes to grasp the truth because of the testimony of the witnesses.  

I do not remember when I first heard of Jesus Christ, but I know it was very soon in the developing consciousness of my early childhood.  My parents introduced Him to me.  The prayers they taught me spoke eloquently to the mind of a young child of His truth, goodness, and beauty.  Later religion teachers and priests joined the chorus of witnesses who gave testimony to Jesus Christ.  In their testimony they all agreed — here was the Son of God, the Savior of the world.  

The Son of God, the Savior of the world, is introduced to us in the Gospels.  He is not an accident.  His coming is not the result of chance.    Jesus will say, “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified” (John 5:31).   Indeed, there are witnesses who give testimony to Him beforehand, like John the Baptizer (John 5:33-35).   His testimony is as brilliant as “a burning and shining lamp” (John 5:35).   However, the greatest and chief witness is the Father Himself.   “Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf,” (John 5:37) says Jesus to those who are trying to kill him because He is “making himself equal to God” (John 5:18).  

Ultimately there is a struggle going on between belief and unbelief.  We must heed the testimony of the witnesses.