Testify!

“He testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them.”

1 Peter 1:11b

What does it mean to testify? What comes to mind when you hear the word “testimony” or “testify?” The image of an evangelical worship service comes to mind where people share stories of faith and people say amen and “testify!” They want to give their “testimony.”

St. John the Baptist was one who testified. When I looked up “testify” I learned that it may come from the Latin referring to a “disinterested third-party witness.” That can’t be our understanding of testify. St. John the Baptist was no disinterested third-party witness. He was a first party witness! Thankfully, the Greek word used for “testify” is what we have today as martyr. Someone who truly testifies ought to be prepared to be martyred. St. John the Baptist testified and he was martyred. He died proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom. Perhaps St. Peter was thinking of St. John the Baptist when he wrote that letter – he suffered and died for this testimony. Brothers, are we ready to do the same?

In order to testify to someone and ultimately suffer and die for them, we must come to know, to love, and to serve them. We must be witnesses who knows the Lord, loves the Lord, and serves the Lord, who is willing to lay down our lives for the Lord and His people. St. John the Baptist knew the Lord. From the moment Mary showed up at their doorstep, John the Baptist knew the Lord and he delighted in Him so much so that he “leapt for joy.” His entire life pointed to Jesus and to prepare the people for Him. Do we know the Lord?

By dedicating his entire life to the Lord and His future ministry, St. John the Baptist loved the Lord. He was like someone who was waiting for someone to come back from vacation, making sure the house is clean and ready for his beloved family member to come home. His entire life was to make sure Jesus’ path was made ready and the people’s hearts were open. He loved the Lord. Do we?

St. John the Baptist was arrested and put to prison because of his ministry, and he was ultimately killed, martyred. He died professing and proclaiming the coming of the Lord. In life and in death, he served the Lord.

We are called to be witnesses who testifies to the love and mercy of God and who are ready to die for Christ.  We cannot be disinterested third party witnesses. There are too many of those in the world today. Too many people who may know ABOUT the Lord and then going around talking as if they knew Him. But, like St. John the Baptist, we must be first hand witnesses. We must come to know, love, and serve the Lord. God willing, when our noses hit the marble on the day of our ordination, we better know our lives are no longer ours, for we have literally laid down our lives.

At the end of the day, it’s not about us. It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about God and His people. John the Baptist knew this too.  We too are to be bridges for people to come to know the Lord. Do our lives bring people to God or do they turn them away?

To know the Lord and to have Him in our hearts is everything. St. John the Baptist understood this. May our lives today and everyday point to the One who has loved us from all eternity.