Cloud of Witnesses

…since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses…

Hebrews 12:1b

Most of us have an interesting story about how we came to be a follower of Jesus Christ. With a few exceptions most of these accounts have at their core individuals who influenced us. There are grandmothers who taught us to pray, Sunday school teachers who taught us Bible stories, and parents who dragged us to church in spite of our resistance. They make up a part of our cloud of witnesses; people who faithfully pointed to the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

It is important to remember our witnesses. They represent stories of others who influenced them; thus carrying on the legacy of faith. Our life of faith today is or should be a reflection of those who influenced us. For some the impact was as small as a grain of sand and for others the significance of how they helped shape us, lives with us daily. Nevertheless they made a difference in our lives.

When Jesus appears at the river Jordan he too has a cloud of witnesses behind him. For thousands of years faithful individuals pointed to the promises of God and of course Jesus was the embodiment. He in turn pointed the way to God.

While we may think fondly of our “witnesses” it is important to also think of ourselves as “witnesses.” Every day is yet another opportunity to faithfully point to the faithfulness of Jesus. It is how the legacy of faith continues and the cloud of witnesses multiplies.

Jesus, thank you for each
witness that you brought into my life.
Help me to carry on the legacy of faith
by being a faithful witness to others.

Amen.