The LightSample

Being the Light as a Witness

What must it have been like to see Jesus’ life up close with your own eyes? The Bible tells us how men and women from very different walks of life were changed forever because of their time with Jesus. Who could have guessed that Peter, a fisherman from Galilee, would end up preaching to thousands about the power of Jesus to save (Acts 2:14-41)? Because of his time with Jesus, witnessing the details of His life and ministry, Peter gave up everything to follow Him. By witnessing Jesus’ life, Peter changed, and as a result, his whole life changed. He couldn’t go back to the life he knew before. Having known Christ and His power to redeem, Peter himself became a light in both word and deed.

In the last lesson, we talked about what it means for a Christian to be light—a source of hope in a dark world. What does it mean to be a light as a witness to others?

After His death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to many and preached about the kingdom of God. Imagine the power of His message given that it came from someone who people had seen die, yet was now alive! And soon He would return to God the Father, leaving His followers on earth. Of course, this must have been sorrowful news for the disciples, who had walked so closely with Him, sharing His bread and going wherever He went. But before Jesus left, He promised to not leave them alone. Soon the Holy Spirit would come and fill them, giving power to their words and deeds as they witness to people near and far (Acts 1:8) so that those who didn’t know Christ could have the chance to hear about His life and believe.

The same Spirit that raised Jesus was promised to His followers—to fill them and give them the power, guidance, and strength to show and tell others about who Jesus really is, and what it really means to follow Him. They were to start at home in Jerusalem, the heart of their nation. And they were to continue to the farthest reaches of the globe. These imperfect people, most from humble beginnings, would represent Christ wherever they went, and doing so would spread the light Christ brought into the world until even the most distant and darkest parts of the world were brightened by the gospel.

Prayer

“God help me be a witness in this world and share all that You have promised and done.”