Dr. Mike Murphy
May 6, 2023
It would be the trial of a lifetime. Tom Daniels got the case of the century thrown into his lap. He had tried many major cases as a top Assistant District Attorney for the city. But this case would be like no other. The murder of a city councilman, who was running for mayor upped the stakes. Top that with the fact that known mob associates with connection to the sitting mayor had been arrested for the crime, turned the focus and the heat up on every word he said. This was the case he had dreamed of, but could be the case that buried him.
With the District Attorney out on medical leave, recovering from a recent heart attack, every decision for the case fell on his shoulders. He made sure that all evidence for the case found its’ way to his desk, as it would be him answering the media hounds if even the smallest tidbit of information was overlooked. He also made sure that by all evidence coming through him, he could keep a lid on all of it. He knew that with any leak, City Hall would be at his door faster that the reporters.
As he looked over the evidence, he felt confident in so much that he saw. The ballistics reports had come back in his favor. Detectives had turned up a half-smoked cigarette with the DNA of the accused at the rally where the councilman had been speaking as the bullet took his life. He had a written message in the handwriting of the accused also. A message that had been coded, but as the code had been broken, a message that talked about the assassination of the councilman that day.
Tom had all he needed to proceed at trial. All that is, but one thing. He did not have a witness! Over seven hundred people had been at the rally that day, but not one had come forward stating they had seen the accused commit the crime. He could not even get a single person to confirm they had seen the accused at the rally that day. With the mob’s involvement, he knew that many were scared. Scared for their life, and the lives of their family. He had offered witness protection to anyone who would step forward. A huge reward had also been offered to anyone who had evidence of the shooting. Day and night, detectives continued to interview any and everyone who had been at or near the rally that day. But as the detectives asked the question, echoes could be heard through the silence of the replies.
Just one witness was all he needed. One reliable man or woman who could visually place the accused at the rally that day. Just one person who could get him beyond the circumstantial and physical evidence, who could put a voice with the evidence for the jury to hear and see. Each day they searched, but each day they failed. As the day of the trial approached, all of Tom’s thoughts turned to one question. “Can I get a witness!”
History has shown us, that with each piece of evidence there is importance in a witness. Someone who can bring the words off the page, and put a face to the facts that lie in front of us. Someone who can verify what is said, and confirm what is seen. When we look at the word “witness”, we soon see the definition behind the word. The dictionary tells us a witness is someone who sees something happen or occur. The word “witness” actually comes to us from the Hebrew, and from the same root word we also get our word "testimony". The word actually means, “to see or to observe the door or pathway”. In ancient days, there was no more important part of the house than the door. The door was by far the most used part of the structure. You could not go anywhere unless you first went through the door, and found yourself on the path. Many houses in this day did not have windows, and in most that did, the windows were very small. So if something was going on outside your house, you had to go and open your door so you could see or observe what had gotten your attention.
It is through this, that the terms witness and testimony soon found their way into the public forum, into our courts. Under Hebrew law, a witness was held to a very high standard. The witness was so accountable for what testimony he gave, that to give false testimony could cost him dearly, could even cost him his life. The life and the future of the one who the witness was giving testimony against or for, often came down to the truthfulness of the witness. For him to accurately, factually, and without bias give an account of what he had observed. It was the witness, and his testimony, that brought an accountability and proof to the case.
As the word made its’ way into the New Testament, and into the Greek language, it continued to carry with it this same meaning. From the same root word in Greek that we get our word witness, we also get the same word "martyr". And although they have a complete separate meaning, it is by no mistake they come from the same root word. Show me a sane man who was willing to die for something he did not believe in? Willing to give his life for something he has no faith in?
Stephen serves as a perfect example of how the root word applies. We read in Acts 7:1-53 of the stirring testimony of Stephen as he gives a witnessing account of how the hand of God had moved throughout the history of Israel, and how that history led all to the foot of the Cross. As his testimony was angrily rejected by those who had no desire to hear the truth, Stephen was stoned to death(Acts 7:54-60). Even as the stones were thrown at him, Stephen clung to his faith, and called on our Lord.
It was with this same faith that the Apostles also taught us to be witnesses, sharing our testimony of the Lord. It was by this testimony that Peter reminded all of what the Disciples were a witness to(Acts 3:12-16). It was also by this witnessing faith that Paul reminded us of what he was told, “For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.”(Acts 22:15). Our faith makes us the perfect witness to the truth of Christ, and our testimony to this world tells them of the love Christ has shown each of us. When Christ was asked what the greatest commandment was, He answered by saying, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”(Mark 12:30). When we follow these words, our life bears witness to the grace, mercy and power of Christ, and our testimony serves as a solemn oath to others of His life and His death.
Why should we, as Christians, be a witness? Because Christ commands us(Matthew 28:19-20). Because He has conditioned us for it(Matthew 9:36-38, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Jude 23). Because the consequences call for it(Matthew 7:13, Revelation 20:15). Because of the promise of His coming(1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). Because the love He shows us requires it( 2 Corinthians 5:14, Romans 10:1). Because the character of the Gospel stands on it(Acts 4:12, Romans 1:16). And because of our commitment to His Word(1 Corinthians 9:16-23, 1 Timothy 1:11-16). Peter and John answered the question this way, “for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”(Acts 4:20). We are not just a witness because we are called to be, we are a witness because we desire to be!
We so easily forget, the Holy Spirit makes each of us a witness. The Holy Spirit calls each of us to be witnesses. And it is only through the Holy Spirit can we, as witness, give our testimony. From the moment we are “born again”, we are a witness to all that Christ has and is doing in each of our lives, and we have a responsibility to take the stand, and let this world hear and see the overwhelming evidence of the difference that Christ has made in each of us.
My testimony is the witness for all the Lord has done in my life. Each day the Lord reminds me of all I am a witness to. I serve as a witness to the life He has given me. To His mercy that has forgiven me. And to His grace that alone has saved me. Each moment that as I look at this world around me, I am a witness to His beauty and His glory. I am a witness to the power of His voice, and the truth of His Word. And as I watch that Word being put into action every minute of the day, I am a witness to the amazement of His love. Nowhere can I look around me, and not see that I am a witness to the Lord. As I see all the Lord shows me, I realize the importance of all I see. And with each sight I see, what it calls me to do. I must take the stand, place my hand on His Word, and give a truthful testimony for all the world to hear. I must be willing to honestly answer every question this world may ask me about Him. And I must be willing to give an accurate account of all I have seen Him do in my life, and in the lives of those around me. I am a witness.
As the Lord stands at that door knocking, I pray that each of you will answer, and be a witness to His mercy and His love!
