His Witnesses

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 11, 1915

Lesson for the Children — No. 2

His Witnesses

MEMORY TEXT: “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

A witness tells what he knows. Describe how testimony is given in court. One cannot guess or state what he has not experienced or known, for such testimony is worthless.

There was a great battle fought while David was king. His enemies were defeated. A young man wanted to run and tell the news to the king, for there were no telephones or telegraphs to carry it. General Joab thought the young man unfit to go, and sent another to tell the story. (Give main points of narrative found in 2 Sam. 18:19-32.) Ahimaaz did not know what to say, even though he could run faster than Cushi. This shows that we should get ready before we start as witnesses for Jesus. We must learn what he says, and become well acquainted with him, so that we can tell what we ourselves know.

It was so with James and John. When they spoke of Jesus they told what they knew. They had lived with him and learned to follow him before they began to bear witness. Long before they were sent out to preach, they were sitting in a boat one day with their father. Jesus came down to the beach. For a while he watched the men working, then he called James and John. He asked them to follow him. These men knew that meant a different life for them. Here were their nets, boats, a lovely lake full of fish, their home, and comforts. But the young men answered the call to go with Jesus, leaving their father behind with the nets. The sons suffered with the Saviour, but they brought thousands to love him by telling what they knew and had seen. They lost their home and the fishing business. They “forsook their nets and followed him,” but they gained immortal crowns, and their names will forever be in the foundation wall of the New Jerusalem.

At one time Paul was preaching in Philippi. A girl possessed of an evil spirit kept following him and the other workers, saying, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.” What the girl said was true, but the Lord did not wish that kind of person to witness for his workers, and Paul told the wicked spirit to come out. When brought before the Jewish council, Peter said, “We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:32. The Lord does not wish those who are disobedient and unholy to give his message.

Where were the disciples to witness? — First at Jerusalem, where Jesus had suffered, and where it would be hardest for them to labor. Sometimes it is harder for us to work right at home than in any other place, but that is where we should begin. From Jerusalem they were to go to the country near, then to Samaria, and after that to places far off. Bible examples may be given to show how faithfully this instruction was carried out by the apostles. In our homes, in school, and in Sabbath school we may now witness for Jesus, all the time preparing for work in any place the Lord would have us go.

In this meeting let special prayer be offered for us to be made true witnesses, and willing to go wherever Jesus may call; also that those who have already gone as missionaries may be faithful witnesses for the truth.