Janita Krayniak

Can I get a witness? In modern times we have attached the meaning of the word “witness” to a person called to appear in court or perhaps an eye witness to a crime of some sort. But I would like to explore what it means to be a witness in the Christian tradition. Throughout the Old Testament, a fact had to be established by two or three witnesses (typically men in power positions) to prove that something had occurred like when Boaz called for witnesses to confirm the land purchases from Naomi’s family.

From the New Testament, Mary Magdalene and the other women were witnesses to an empty tomb and the disciples were witnesses to the risen Christ (of course Thomas missed the first time.) 

These are all valid usages of the word witness.

The root word for witness comes from the Greek word mártus. To bear witness (which means to share the story of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus conquering death and the grave) is what the apostles did. The word martyr (someone who is willing to give his/her/their life in support of religious beliefs) actually stems from this word and practice. Bearing this in mind, how might that change our understanding of what Jesus is asking of his apostles when he tells them in Acts 1:8 to “be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

If we are going to be witnesses for the Lord, then telling our God-story/our testimony, is absolutely a part of that; but being a witness, being willing to wholly give ourselves, to get out there and share the good news of the Gospel, even to the ends of the earth or maybe even unto death?

Are we truly willing to put our whole selves out there in the service of the risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

Maybe I should ask the question one more time … can I get a witness?

(Janita Krayniak is the pastor at United Church of Powell.)