Testimony
ATP Blog #65 of Gospel of John
Testimony
John 9:10-25
If someone were to challenge you, ‘Who made you the way you are?’ or, ‘What has caused the changes in you?’ What would you say? That is your testimony. We have been discussing the situation where Jesus Christ healed a man who had been blind from birth. The man was given the opportunity to be healed, by instructing him to wash in the Pool of Siloam, across the city. The man did, and when he returned, people noticed a change in him.
To the crowds ‘They asked him, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered, “A man called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received my sight.’ A testimony is a statement of the facts, whether you are presenting it in a legal setting, like a courtroom or a police station, or in an informal setting, to friends, or onlookers. This man stated what he knew to be true: he had been blind, a man named Jesus rubbed mud on his face and told him to wash, he washed, and now he can see. It was a miracle that no one could deny. They tried … double checking that this was indeed the same man, even asking his parents. Those who doubted could only ask for further clarification of the facts, such as the location of this man named Jesus. Since he could not answer that question, the people brought him to the leading religious rulers, the Pharisees.
To the court John makes a point of observing that this happened on the Sabbath! This was, of course, the Pharisee’s beef against Jesus, other than not liking His version of the Messiah. The leaders question the man who was formerly blind (v13-15), and then conclude, ‘This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.’ Isn’t it interesting that they would claim a miracle is not from God, simply because it was against their traditions, and was performed on the Sabbath? Even others commented, ‘How can a man who is a “sinner” do such signs?’ That is a good question … one that can get you thrown out of the Synagogue for going against the religious authorities! The formerly blind man restated the facts (his testimony) as he knew them. When they asked him what he thought of Jesus, the One who had healed him, he answered, ‘He is a prophet.’ At this point, he didn’t seem to know much about Jesus, but what he did know led him to the conclusion that God had sent Him, and worked a miracle through Him. Upon being pressed for further details, the man answered the leaders, ‘Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.’
To us Eventually the man would seek, and get to know Jesus better. Until then, he kept his testimony to the facts, which were indisputable. Whether people liked it, or believed it, was irrelevant. May we learn to recognize God’s work in our lives, and seek to glorify Him by sharing our testimonies. There are many indisputable facts you can share, evidence of God’s work in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is your testimony, and it could be what draws another person to Christ, to accept Him as their Saviour and Lord. So, be like the man formerly known as blind, and share what God has done … but stick to the facts!
