“Believe Without A Witness!”

“Believe Without A Witness!”(Jn.8:21-32).
Welcome to Day Fourteen of Lent 2023.
When Nji heard that his friend Ngu just collapsed and died, he was speechless. When he arrived the funeral compound he wailed the loudest. It took time for other mourners to calm him down. The majority of people present took his weeping as a mark of true friendship. They said he really missed his friend.
What they did not know: Nji had given a one million franc loan to his friend with neither a witness nor a written and signed note to that effect. Nji was not weeping because he missed his friend. He was weeping because nobody would believe him that his friend owed him a million francs.
Having a witness is very important. It was even more so with the Jews. “One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”(Dt.19:15). This explains why at the trial of Jesus there were false witnesses whose statements did not even corroborate each other (Mk.14:56-59).
At one time the Pharisees challenged Jesus on his self-claim of who he was. They said, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness, your testimony is not valid”(Jn.8:13).
Among other things Jesus told them, “…You would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you would indeed die in your sins…”
Generations have gone by but doubters and sceptics are always around. There are many conflicting dissenting voices with convincing arguments challenging who Jesus says he is. To any of such dissenters Jesus’ words still resound, “you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be!”
To us who believe in him, he says, “If you hold to my teachings you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” The truth here is not philosophical truth; it is the truth that brings salvation and freedom from sin. For as he says further, “everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”(34-35).
My friend, in the academy it is said, “Publish or perish!” Here the Lord Jesus Christ says, “Believe that I am the Son of God or die in your sins!” Do you believe? Always remember this: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ does not depend on other people’s witnessing but on personal conviction!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ I believe that you are the guarantee of my salvation. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.