In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life.”
Jesus made this bold statement during the holiday known
as the Festival of Tabernacles. It was
an 8-day celebration centered at the Jerusalem Temple celebrating the harvest
and God’s graciousness to Israel! All of
Jerusalem was filled with temporary shelters like tents known as tabernacles or
booths. The festival began with worship
on the first day where four large lampstands would be lit at the temple that
were so large and bright that the entire city was lit up by them, These lampstands symbolized the light of God. There would also be a number of symbolic
processions used in their worship and celebration, including torch-light
processions well into the night.
When Jesus says that HE is the light of the world he is
making that bold statement during the festival, with all that rich symbolism
and imagery in the background. Jesus is
saying quite clearly that HE is the true light of God. But HIS light is not limited to Jerusalem,
but extends to the entire world. This
presents everyone with one of two choices: to follow Jesus and live in His
light or to walk in darkness away from Him.
There simply is no ambiguity to that statement. You are either one or the other. Either you revolve around the Son or you
don’t.
But on another occasion in Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said, “YOU
are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden. Neither do people light a lamp
and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light
to everyone in the house. In the same
way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven.”
How can this be?
Is Jesus contradicting Himself?
Who is the light of the world, Jesus or us?
In John Jesus is defining who HE IS! In Matthew, Jesus is defining who WE ARE IN
HIM!
We are NOT, CANNOT and NEVER WILL BE the
light. Our lives only reflect
Jesus and His ongoing work in us. Jesus’
light, shining through us, is so attractive that it draws others to Him.
This means we need to be sure where our lives are in
relationship to the light source. We are
not the center. Jesus is. Our agenda cannot be the driving force. Only Jesus’ agenda can.
Over 1500 years ago a brilliant man, Galileo, discovered
something amazingly new about the earth’s relationship to the sun. Ptolemy, another brilliant man from an
earlier time, believed the sun revolved around the earth, meaning the earth was
the center of the universe. But Galileo
observed different things through a telescope.
The sun didn’t revolve around the earth.
The earth (and all the other planets) revolved around the sun, making
the sun the center of the universe.
With that, everything changed!
Today, we are faced with a similar reality that should
alter our understanding of the spiritual universe. We are not the center of the universe. Jesus is.
Our lives should revolve around Him and reflect His light and not the
other way around.
We must revolve around the Son instead of
looking for a Son to revolve around us.
What are the implications for this in your
everyday life?
Lord, help me be reflect your light...properly!
ReplyDeleteLooking at Matthew5: 14-16,from Life Application Bible.."Can you hide a city that is sitting on top of a hill?If we live for Christ, we will glow like lights, showing people what Christ is light.We hide our light by #1,being quiet when we should speak,#2,going along with the crowd, #3,denying the light,#4,letting sin dim your light,#5, not explaining our light to others,or #6, ignoring the needs of others. Be a beacon of truth,don't shut your light off from the rest of the world. Interesting subject..well worth studying!
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