First of all, let’s look at the Apostle Paul. He has given us a great illustration of being ready to testify to what Jesus did in his life. Three times he was dragged before the authorities – governmental, synagogue and occupational forces – and three times he just talked about what happened to him. He didn’t preach theology. Instead He told his story exactly the way it happened to him. That’s the key to successfully witnessing to someone else. Just tell them what happened to you. The truth needs no defence.

Okay, so now I want to talk about another guy in the Gospels. MAN! I love this particular life-changing story. I wish I could put it all here, but I have limited space, so I will hit the highlights. The disciples are talking about who is responsible for a man who was born blind. And Jesus says: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”Verse 3 Chapter 9 of John. Hmmm. This incident kicks the whole idea of sick, sinful people are getting what they deserve to the curb! Please note: their theological argument was unimportant to the healing, Jesus healed the guy anyway.

He healed this man by spitting in the dirt and making mud and smearing it onto his eyes. I mean really? He spat in the dirt?? Funny how we have adopted many things from the bible but not that one!! 🤣 Next the blind man is sent off by Jesus, to the pool of Siloam to wash the mud off – love that bit … I mean like … whatever did this guy say as he stumbled through the crowds? He’s still blind going there!… However you slice it, this man is off, he’s charging along as much as a blind man can charge because he wants that miracle!

So the guy washed the mud off! Now he can see and the people who have known him as a beggar, can also see that he can see! ‘’How did this happen they ask?’’ He says: “Funny thing you should ask me that.”. And he told them. When they ask him where the man was who healed him is – he says “I dunno! Go find him yourself!!” Okay, so you are getting the ‘me’ version now, but oh, how I love this story – did I already mention that? 

The Pharisees and other power mongers are now officially getting their knickers in a twist because it is the Sabbath. They start debating how the blind man can’t be healed by God, because after all, it’s the Sabbath. They know that they should honour the Sabbath, and so that means God should too – apparently! Good luck with that one fellas, like telling God what to do with what He introduced is such a good idea!

These religious men focussed on the wrong thing … they were looking at a miracle and they missed it because of their belief system. They know it is a miracle but it messes with their theology big time! Meanwhile the Lord doesn’t care what day anybody gets healed on – He just wants us well! Yaaaaay Jesus! Back to my story, … the powers-that-be start quizzing the guy-who-was-healed. Eventually they launch out into unbelief and send for this man’s parents, so they can prove he wasn’t really blind in the first place.

Verses 19-21: “Is this your son?” they asked.“Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see? “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or Who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” They gave that answer because they were afraid — anyone who said Jesus was the Messiah got tossed out of the synagogue. Imagine losing all your church family because your kid got healed. Oxymoron anyone??

Now to my punchline v24-25: “A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man (Jesus) is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” This ex-blind man is feeling pretty cheeky by now, and asks the Pharisees if they want to become Jesus’ disciples too. Ouch! That went over well!  More conversation ensued. Onto Verses 30-33: “The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where He comes from, yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does His will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

Nothing wrong with that guy’s theology! Can you see how simple it is?

So right there – that’s how you give your testimony. You don’t have to be fancy, you don’t need 2500 scriptures, you don’t need to disprove the other guy’s theory. You just need to tell the other person— I was like this, and now I’m not! This guy’s knowledge of God was limited to the fact that he was born blind and now he wasn’t after he did what Jesus told him to do. ← I just have to say this – did ya get that? His obedience led to healing! 

We do not witness so we can straighten out other people’s theology, or the lack of it, or even their error. We are merely witnessing about what God did for us. If they ask questions then we answer them. If we don’t know then we say, like the parents of the blind man said: “We dunno, ask him!” Remember, a witness tells what he saw, and, most of the time, no two witnesses will see the same thing. Easy peasy. Bye. 👋