Title: God’s Eye Witness News

Theme: Sharing the Good News with others.  2nd Sunday after Epiphany. Yr A

Object: A microphone to pretend you are a reporter.

Scripture: Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32,34 (NIV)

It is important for us to keep up with what is happening in the world, isn’t it?  One of the best ways to keep up is by watching the news on TV. A typical news broadcast may have several live, on-the-scene reports.  The announcer might say something like, “Fire destroyed a downtown business today.  Channel 13 Eye Witness News reporter, Marci Brown, is at the scene. Marci?”  “Thank you, Bob.  I am talking to Caleb Smith who witnessed the fire.  Caleb, what can you tell us?” The eye witness will then tell exactly what he saw.  It really helps us to understand what happened when we have an eye-witness report, doesn’t it?

Even though there was no TV during the time that Jesus lived, eye-witness  reports were still very important.  One day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him.  He said to the people with him, “Look!  There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  He is the one I told you about.  I didn’t know he was the Messiah, but when I baptized him, I saw the Holy Spirit coming down from the heavens like a dove. It came down and landed right on his shoulder.  I saw it with my own two eyes and I tell you, this is the Son of God.”  When the people heard John’s eye-witness report, it helped them to understand and believe that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Most people come to know about Jesus because someone else tells them about him. Perhaps it is their parents, a Sunday School teacher, a pastor, or a good friend.  They give an eye-witness account how Jesus came into their heart and changed their life.

God wants all of us to be a part of his “Eye Witness News Team.” What would you say about what Jesus means to you?  Perhaps you would say, “Since Jesus came into my heart, sadness has turned to joy; doubt has turned to faith; worry has turned to trust; fear has turned to confidence.”  Whatever Jesus has done for you, tell others so they can know him too.

Dear Father, thank you for sending your Son.  Help us to be witnesses so that others will come to know his love as we do.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.