Friendship comes first
- Ayodeji Fola-Owolabi
- Feb 23, 2024
- 2 min read
Being a witness is great. I'm personally convinced that many of the amazing prophecies that speak of God's promises were proclaimed to the Church. Even more specifically, to those who testify to the life of Jesus. His birth, work, death, burial, and ressuretion.
"If anyone serves me, him will my Father honor."
Who is a witness, and what are they responsible for? A witness is not just someone who sees something happen, but someone who is ready and willing to say he saw it happen. What we appreciate as the Church today began with witnesses to the Life of Jesus Christ.
What kind of witness were the first disciples? First, they were a witness to His love. They had fallen in love with Jesus, even swearing and preparing to die for him, which most eventually did. In an Israel of that time filled with darkness and hate for their Roman oppressors, Jesus exemplified Love. They never recovered from the Love of God, manifested in Christ Jesus.
They were also witnessed to His friendship. It's evident that Jesus spared no boundaries in developing a relationship with the first disciples. Amongst them, he was called a drunk and a glutton. At his arrest, he had to be personally identified because it seems no one knew who Jesus was, having blended with them. Around him, they confidently broke all Sabbath laws, following in his steps. He was a friend to them.
Finally, they were witness to His loyalty. This loyalty is not always apparent, but we discern it in their relationship. Jesus, having been nourished by a conversation with a woman in Samaria (when they had gone to buy food), was no longer hungry. They asked surprisingly, "Who gave him food to eat?" On another occasion, when he asked if they wanted to leave, their reply showed mutual loyalty, "Where will we go? You have the words of life. "
This is what a witness does, proclaiming the things Jesus began both to do and to teach. Before we can become effective witnesses, we need to know him. Friendship comes first.
Comments