OK the question of the day here: how many here witnessed the solar eclipse last Monday?
Anybody?
How many witnessed the earthquake from Friday April 5? Now you may not have seen the earthquake in and of itself.
But I heard people say they saw books shaking, coffee cup moving slightly.
Most of us probably felt the shaking for a few seconds, right?
Every day we are witnesses to one thing or another. Sometimes we witness ordinary - run-of-the-mill things – children playing in the park.
A sports event on TV.
A stranger smiling or jamming along with music with their ear buds on.
Some of us have witnessed major events - the birth of a child or death of loved one.
We’ve witnessed our children grow up, our parents age. We’ve witnessed ourselves gain a few wrinkles, lose or gain a few pounds. haven't we?
We collectively witnessed the COVID pandemic and the difficulties that arose from that.
Some of us are old enough to have witnessed 911 – or its aftereffects.
Just about all of us have witnessed major life events – baptisms, weddings, funerals, birthday parties, graduations.
We are all witnesses to one thing or another.
What events loom large in your mind – what things – good or bad – will you never forget?
To be a witness simply means to have personal experience of an event. You can verify something is true, something happened – because you saw it – you felt it – you were part of the experience.
In our gospel lesson today, Jesus appears to his disciples, and they are startled and frightened.
Jesus shows them his hands and his feet. He eats a piece of broiled fish in their presence.
He teaches them – opening their minds – so that they could understand the scriptures – so that they can finally make sense that the Messiah had to suffer, that rose from the dead,
and that the forgiveness of sins was to be preached in his name, to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
Jesus calls them witnesses to these things.
This was a big thing.
In an age before security cameras, people taking I-phone recordings of accidents or incidents that later get posted on social media, having eyewitnesses was important.
The scriptures tell us that there needs to be at least 2 witnesses to prove an event had occurred – especially a crime or an accusation. (Deuteronomy 17:6).
A witness who withheld the truth shared in the guilt of the offense (Leviticus 5:1).
Slanderous reports and meddlesome witnesses were forbidden (Exodus 20:16; 23:1). What do we hear in the ten commandments? Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Being a witness was important.
Remember the story of Ruth?
Boaz buys land from Naomi’s family, he calls together witnesses to see the transaction. He does this so that if there’s a later dispute about the land, they can bear witness about what they saw.
Bearing witness was necessary to keep the peace, to administer justice to maintain good relations.
But in the bible, being a witness goes beyond that. First and foremost, we are called primarily to be witnesses to God and God’s goodness in the world.
God heard the cry of the Hebrew slaves, he delivered them from slavery, he gave them the covenant and the law and led them to the promised land.
God made a promise that went back to Abraham, that they were to be a
chosen people – not by any merit of their own, but so they could testify, give witness to the glory and existence of the one true God (Deut 7:6–8). Isaiah writes: “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. (Isaiah 43:)
Jesus appears today to his disciples to turn them into witnesses.
Because God wants people to know Jesus and become disciples. God wants to be in relationship with us and all the nations of the world.
So, Jesus chose ordinary regular people, not kings and queens, not judges, or warriors, not scholars or eminent teachers to be his first witnesses. Ordinary simple people – like you and me. We are chosen, not for any merit of our own, but because God loves us and God wants us, in our ordinary - day-to-day way kind of way, to bear witness to God’s love for all humankind.
Being a witness is a powerful thing.
If you are a witness in a court of law, you can make or break a case.
Bearing witness is a powerful thing.
Listening to someone talk about their lives, what they have gone through to survive, enduring heartache, trauma and pain, and believing in them – can make the difference between someone staying broken in spirit to being someone raised up – healed and made whole.
How does it feel to be heard, validated when someone sits and listens to your truth?
It's great, isn't it?
That’s the power of being a witness.
The bible is a book of witness.
The scriptures are all about turning us into witnesses. And you and I are witnesses.
Because we have encountered God working in our lives and making a difference.
We have borne witness to God working in the lives of others. I swear – as God’s witness -
- I have seen God take someone off the street, out of addiction, from the snares of prostitution and claim them as a beloved child, now living life with dignity.
I have seen God take criminals, drug dealers out of that degradating lifestyle and place them on solid ground – where they have become counselors and healers to others.
I have seen God take alcoholics and turn them into sober people.
I have seen God take abused unloved children and give them a sense of self-worth and true love and purpose for their lives.
I have seen God take fighting couples, angry individuals and turn them into compassionate, forgiving beings. I have seen God turn the depressed into positive people engaged fully in life.
I have seen God turn the haughty to humble,
the troubled to trusting,
the bitter to grateful,
the liar to truth-telling,
the sick and ill to wholeness in body mind and spirit. Most of all, I have seen you –
the people of Our Saviour Church –
in the midst of change,
in the pain of letting go of a beloved pastor –
with the anxiety of the unknown,
chose to support one another,
chose to trust God –
chose to stay invested,
stay connected and remain hopeful.
What a powerful witness you are and are growing into.
Hold onto that.
Because you have something important to say that people need to hear – about the goodness of God in Jesus Christ – right here – right now.
Remember first and foremost - You are God’s witness.
You are a witness to Jesus Christ – to the work of the Holy Spirit –
you are the witness to how the love and mercy of God can change our lives.
When was the last time you witnessed to God? Today - our scriptures say – speak up!
People need to hear what you have to say.
Who knows whose life you can change by your witness?
So let Jesus continue to open our minds to the witness of the scriptures – to the witness around us – because we are witnesses – and through the grace of God – let us continue to embody God’s love and forgiveness to a watching – waiting world.
Amen.