Wednesday-Eyewitness

And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2 Peter 1:15,16

Have you ever had to appear in court and give testimony? After receiving an official summons to appear on a certain date and time, I dressed in my best clothes and showed up on time. When my name was called, I went forward and swore an oath. While I can only think of three times that I was called as a witness, they were all really serious.

1. I was 16 years old and accused of trying to hit someone with my car. I’ll leave the details for another time.

2. The company I worked for was falsely accused of not paying an employment agency for a referral.

3. A dog attacked a neighbor and I told the court what I saw and shared a picture that I took of the incident.

If you know me at all, you know that I like to talk. And talk. And talk. I really enjoy giving my opinion and insights on just about any and all topics. But when I was in court, I sat up straight and didn’t speak unless I was spoken to. Someone asked a question and I answered. Period.

While these three appearances in court couldn’t be more different, they all had one very important thing in common. The only thing that I could talk about was what I personally experienced. No opinions were allowed. Only what I personally saw or heard. That’s it.

Now you might think that’s not really all that fair. After all, I’ve got lots and lots of thoughts on just about every topic possible. It’s so restrictive to only answer questions that are asked. To only describe things that I personally saw and heard.

But that’s the definition of an eyewitness. Someone who witnessed something with their own eyes. They didn’t see a video of it on the internet. They didn’t read about it on social media. They actually experienced the people and events themselves. No filters. Just raw reality.

At the end of the original Star Wars trilogy, Darth Vader asks Luke to see him with his own eyes[1]. Up to this point, Lord Vader has only seen him through the cameras in his mask. Yes, he’s seen the image of his son, but not his son.

At this most important time at the end of his life, Anakin Skywalker wants to look at his son face to face. Person to person. Father to son. Man to man. Nothing in between them. They are both totally transparent with one another.

While this is a very moving scene, it brings an important question to you and me. Think back at the moments in time when you were an eyewitness to something that needed to be told to others. What are the most important things that we are person eyewitnesses to?

Peter’s thinking back to the most important event in his life. And it’s not the first time he saw Jesus. It’s none of the miracles that he saw Jesus perform. It’s not even when Peter spoke out and boldly told the world that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God[2]. And while the resurrection of Jesus from the dead maybe a close second, there’s actually something bigger.

I know you’re searching your memory and Googling what this might be. What could possibly be more earthshattering than these historic events? Well, Peter’s telling us that seeing Jesus’ change right there in front of his face is the mountaintop experience of his life. When Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain, his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light[3].

This is when the fully God part of Jesus came out from behind his fully human part. His eternal power and glory burst into the world and only these three saw it. They were eyewitnesses to the most glorious transformation in the history of the world.

When Jesus was changed, it totally changed their thinking about him. Yes, he was born in Bethlehem. Yes, he was a rabbi. But now they personally witnessed his God side, they had a responsibility to tell everyone and anyone. Like the shepherds, “when they had seen him” they had a responsibility to “spread the word[4].”

So, what kind of eyewitness would you be about Jesus? How much can you personally tell others? What evidence is there in your words and your life that would convince others that Jesus is God who died to pay for their sins? Is there enough evidence about Jesus in your life to convict you of being a Christian? And who are these eyewitnesses that can bring personal testimony to what they’ve seen God do and say through you and your life?

Noodling Questions

• List the three most important things you’ve been an eyewitness too.

• Describe two ways you can become a better eyewitness for Jesus.

• What kind of eyewitness are you for Jesus? Describe.

[1] https://youtu.be/4od2ZwwV7yc?si=pe6ovWsTq5TceKdx

[2] Matthew 16:16

[3] Matthew 17:2

[4] Luke 2:17