In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus uses the metaphor of light to describe the influence His children, who through Him are “…no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and members of the household of God” Ephesians 2:19, would have in this world. Back in Matthew 5:14 He said “You are the light of the world…” But I thought He said of Himself, “I am the light of the world”; indeed He did, in John 8:12. He was “the true light that gives light to every man coming into the world” John 1:9. Yes, as many as receive Him and have been “delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed…into the kingdom of His (God’s) dear Son” Colossians 1:13, now become “…light in the Lord…” and are told to “…Walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8. It is here that we are brought into the picture as “…the light of the world.” Physically Jesus would be leaving this world but His followers would remain here; His prayer in John 17:11 is, “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world…” In John 9:5 He had said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” With this setting He left them and us to “shine as lights in the world” Philippians 2:15. Like lighthouses we do not generate the light, we only let His light from within shine out through us! In Matthew 5:14 He likens us to “a city that is set on a hill (whose light) cannot be hidden.” We must therefore be careful that the light that is in us does not become contaminated with darkness; He said “…If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness” Matthew 6:22-23. In Mark 4:21-22 Jesus points out that a lamp is not to be put in a concealed place, but on a lamp stand where it illuminates the room. Comparing verse 22 with Gideon’s army in Judges 7 where their lamps or torches were kept under cover until the opportune moment but then shown forth in splendor, the truths of Jesus teaching parables was not to be permanently concealed, but only hidden from His enemies, see Mark 4:11-12; at the opportune time, after His ascension, His followers would proclaim His truths openly. As we reflect His light, may it always be bright.
Light of the world
By Rose Hill
To the world Jesus said we are the light,
We must show them the way that’s really right.
Our light hidden must not be,
So the glory of the Father they can see.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright…1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. Used by permission.