One who bears a true and faithful testimony. This He did in His life on
earth, as we learn from His own words when He stood before Pilate. “To
this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I
should bear witness into the truth.” {44b} And this same character He
maintains in heaven, for at the opening of the Book of Revelation we are
taught to look for grace and peace “from Jesus Christ the faithful
witness, the first-begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the kings of
the earth.” {44c} It is clear that as the “first-begotten,” that is, as
the risen Saviour, He now acts as a witness.
This is done in two ways. He is a witness to the world, bearing witness
to God’s great plan of salvation. But more than that He witnesses to the
heart of each of His own children, assuring them of His faithfulness,
confirming them in His truth, and doing what David prayed Him to do, “Say
unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” {44d} There is an outer and an inner
witness; an outer witness in the power of His Spirit accompanying His
word, and an inner witness within the souls of His own people; hidden
from the world and known only to those who enjoy it, that witness of
which St. John spoke when he said, “He that believeth on the Son of God
hath the witness in himself.” {45a} And this may teach us an important
lesson respecting the true nature of faith. It is faith when we receive
the testimony of the Lord Jesus as an undoubted truth, and, without
questioning, simply believe Him. There are difficult truths taught in
His word, and some strangely at variance with human opinion; but true
faith gives up all and trusts. It makes a complete surrender to Jesus
Christ, the faithful witness.