Witness

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes on you; and you will be my witnesses

in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8

I have always loved the song, Witness, by Jack Halloran.  Written in the style of a spiritual, the lyrics ask, “Who will be a witness for my Lord?”  The answer might surprise you!  The first character we see is Nicodemus, the Pharisee who sought Jesus by night.  Jesus told him that he must be born again through water and the Spirit.  Only then could he witness to the power and love of his Savior and Lord.  Nicodemus believed in Jesus as the Messiah, and became a tremendous witness to the Gospel, particularly after the death of Christ.

The second character introduced in this song is a little strange, in my mind, when talking about being a witness.  Samson was many, many things – mostly untamed and dissolute! His name would definitely not be the first one that would come to my mind as being a witness for the Lord.  Yes, he acted as a judge of Israel, but much of his life the message he lived was, “Do as I say, don’t do as I do.”  Yet this deeply flawed man finally gave his heart and soul to the God of his fathers amidst immense pain and humiliation, and the final act of his life was a tremendous witness to the power of God in the life of His children.

Who’ll be a witness for my Lord?  I’ll be a witness for my Lord.

There was a man of the Pharisees;

his name was Nicodemus and he didn’t believe.

The same came to Christ by night; 

wanted to be taught out of human sight.

Nicodemus was a man who desired to know 

how a man can be born when he is old.

Christ told Nicodemus as a friend, “Man, you must be born again.”

He said, “Marvel not, if you want to be wise – 

repent, believe and be baptized.”

Then you’ll be a witness for my Lord, 

your soul is a witness for My Lord.

You read about Samson – from his birth

he was the strongest man that ever lived on earth.

Way back yonder in ancient times, 

he killed ten thousand of the Philistines.

Then old Samson went a-wanderin’ about. 

Samson’s strength was never found out.

Till his wife sat upon his knee – she said,

“Tell me where your strength lies, if you please.”

Samson’s wife, she talk so fair, Samson said, “Cut off my hair!

Shave my head just as close as your hand,

and my strength will become like a natural man.”

Samson was a witness for my Lord, my soul is a witness for my Lord.

Who’ll be a witness for my Lord?   

There’s another witness for my Lord!