Light of the World

Last Time: Festival of Lights - Hannukah.

John 8:12 NKJV

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

There Jesus was saying he is the Light of the world.

He is the light of Hannukah that keeps burning and burning during the Feast of Dedication. He is a light for you that keeps burning for you even when your light has run out.

Today we carry on with that themr of0 Light.

Word of Today : Two Texts

In John he says HE is the light, but in Matthew he says:

Matthew 5:14–15 NKJV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

He’s no longer talking about him, he is talking about his brothers and sisters, the fellow children of God. He’s talking about us.

What he means is that we are also a light, but it goes deeper than that when you read Luke.

Luke 23:39 NKJV

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

He saved, made wine, healed. This was his light and he shined it brightly. He only used it when doing so would benefit his people. Not a single miracle was too help him.

but when he was in dange r, asked to take himself down. If he took himself off the Cross, he would not have paid for our sins with his life. But it would certainly be nice for him.

His power and his example was his light, and he gladly shared it. But did not. His gifts were to help others, not him. His light was to not meant to shine on him, but be for others.

Example with Light

Turn off all the lights.

This is a light. When it is covered, it is still light, but it is not a light unto the world. The light is shining on themselves, not on others.

When uncovered it is exactly that same light. bUt now it is is of the world.

If Jesus uses his power on himself on the cross, he is using his gifts and his light just for him. But, when he is healing and helping and raising from the dead… He is using it for others.

Helping himself with his power is to shine his light on him. A light under the table is still a light. But it is a light that shines only for itself.

John says Jesus is the Light of the World, Matthew says You are the light of the world. The main thing in both of it is “of the world”. The gifts and light that God has you are not just for you, they are his gifts to the world.

Everyone of us has Light. But Some poeple might read this and think that is is sufficient to be light. Even if it under the bucket. Jesus is calling on you to share that light. Share that talent - Do not keep it to yourself.

God is constantly blessing the world.

He is constantly sending gifts and light. you might be someones answer, someone’s gift, someone’s light.

The problem is that you are covering it up.

We are called to be Christ like. Like Jesus. Our gifts are not just for us, they are for the world.

How this ties into Discipleship,

2 Peter 1:5–7 NKJV

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Like God, in whose image you are made, your light shines to the whole world.

Share that light with your bothers in showing brotherly kinndness. and care for your neighbour.

Add Agape, is that love that shines not because of what the other person is or does - not becuase they are your child, or your friend, or your employer. It is love that emanates from you because of who you are. It is selfless and unearned.

How do you let your light shine?

Peter tells us how in 1 Peter 2:9-12

1 Peter 2:9–12 NIV

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

You are a light of the world. Let it shine in your good deeds.

Don’t hide it under the table or keep it to yourself.

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Amen.