That word gets thrown around a bit too much. 

Heck, I threw it around last time.

At its root, it’s referring to the witness in a trial.

The one who has seen what really happened. And because they have seen the truth, they are so emphatically put-your-hand-on-a-Bible so-help-me-God confident that they need to share. 

No wait. They have to share. 

It is a moral imperative.
($10 Starbucks gift card for the first person who can reply with the movie and character I’m quoting)

John the Baptist was the first pure example of this. He was Jesus’ cousin, but more importantly he was a witness of what was coming. He had seen the Truth.

Prophecy called him “a voice crying out in the wilderness.” 

Do you see the divergence there? 

He was making a lot of noise (crying out). But not in the way culture would expect it (wilderness). We’ll come back to that in a second.

Thousands of people went to the country to gawk at the spectacle. But they left being baptized in repentance. 

When asked why, he said, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

Filled with the Spirit in the womb, he was living out his legacy as a powerful witness.

Check out what happened in John 3:

And they (John’s disciples) came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

John answered, “…this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

That’s it right there.

Being a witness is a careful dynamic of humbly drawing attention to yourself because of what you’ve seen. Then directing that attention to the Truth. 

A changed life is a magnet for attention.

But a true witness quickly points toward the source.

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May I Have A Quick Sidebar With the Witness?

I hesitate using the word “attention” because it could be taken the wrong way. Both John and Jesus dodged conventional “attention-getting”—they were more wilderness than watch me. 

The measure of impact is important. But if it’s being measured the way the world would, then you’re probably missing the point. In fact, Jesus was often running from the crowds and asking people to stay quiet about what they’ve seen. When major PR opportunities arrived, he refused. 

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Back to the trial. 

If the witness fails to get attention—to raise her hand and take the stand—justice won’t prevail.

The challenge is twofold:

First: Don’t hide. 

A “good little Christian” can’t. 

For too long I hid in plain sight. 

I bounced between fear of people (I’ll lose my credibility), shame from sin (who am I to say anything?), and lack of knowledge (I don’t have all the answers). Paralyzing.

I had this misconception that witnessing was walking up to random people and asking if they know Jesus, then trying to “convert them” (as if it’s some simple transaction). When I couldn’t muster the confidence, I was a failure.

Look it up. That’s not how Jesus did it. He was approachable, confident, and unwavering in his mission. Lost souls flocked to him by the thousands. 

He certainly wasn’t hiding. He was radiating.

Second: Don’t hold attention 

Reflect it.

I heard it said this way, “Glory only looks good on God.” Meaning, it doesn’t look good on you. It certainly doesn’t look good on me!

When people look at your death-to-life transformation, they should see Jesus.

Like we said, witnessing isn’t a transaction. They are starting a relationship with Jesus. When he hasn’t been invited into their heart, you are the beginning of their relationship with Him. Jesus in their life. Heaven on Earth. 

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

1 Timothy 4:15