The Light of the World- Part I

photo by Osezaki_lighthouse.jpg

Originally, I was going to write about this passage as a whole this week. However, the more I think about it, the more I don't want to rush past the first statement to the second. So next week, you'll have to join me again if you want to talk about the absurdity of a lamp under a bowl! :) Today, I just want us to let the first seven words really sink in.

You are the light of the world.

First, before we even begin discussing it, in order to really let it sink in, change the "you are" to "I am" so it is easy to apply personally. Then read it out loud several times but with slightly different emphasis. (Don't worry, it will only take a minute!)

1. Emphasize the "I"- Stop thinking about what anyone else is or isn't doing. Jesus is talking to you.
2. Emphasize the "am"- Don't let it just be a neat churchy statement. This is a fact for a Christian.
3. Emphasize the "the"- What if you were the only Christian left? Could the world see? The truth is that you might actually be the only light that someone sees.
4. Emphasize the "light"- It won't really do any good for me to point out the different aspects of how we are lights. What does it mean to you?
5. Emphasize the "world"- Do you really believe that God has purpose and designs for you that will have an impact on the world or do you secretly just want to not cause too much trouble while you are here?

If you just spent that time meditating on that one statement, that would be enough. I hope you'll stay with me for a few more paragraphs to think about what it means to be the light of the world, though. :)

How are we the light of the world if Jesus is the light of the world? The statement that Jesus is the Light of the world is made several times by Him and about Him especially in the book of John. (See John 1:4, 9; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35-36, etc.) Is it possible for Christians to be the Light of the World and for Jesus to be the Light or do the two statements contradict?

John 12:35-36 ties the two statements together beautifully.

"Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them." (Emph. mine)

C.S. Lewis said, "Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else."


I was talking to my wife last night about The Bible miniseries and the enormity of someone playing the part of Jesus. Isn't that a little presumptuous!? But the truth is that anyone who has sworn their allegiance to Christ has done just that in a sense. Paul says it as if we wear Christ like a costume, "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:27). He uses the clothing wording again in Colossians to say that we "have taken off (our) old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Col. 3:9-10). He also says that God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). If I am understanding it correctly then it is both our job to assume the role of Christ in our section of the world much the same way that an actor assumes a role in his world. And it is the Spirit's job to slowly transform us more and more into the actual image so that we are no longer acting, but being.

So for us, the question is simple. If you are the light of the world, then what are the people in your world looking at? Is your light shining at all? Verse 14 says, 

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

 Marshall Keeble used to say, "The Bible does not say to make your light shine, but it says to let it shine!"
How will you do that today?
Marchall