"The Light of the World"
"The Light of the World"
Two passages of scripture come to mind when the phrase "the light of the world" is spoken.
First, Matthew 5:14-16, which says, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
In this often-quoted passage, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. He is telling them that they must live in such a manner that the people around them will see their godliness and glorify God.
Several other times in the New Testament Christ's followers, Christians, are connected with "light." One example is the expression "children of light" or "sons of light", which is found in Luke 16:8, Ephesians 5:8, and 1 Thessalonians 5:5. A similar example is the phrase "lights in the Lord", which is found in Philippians 2:15. All of these scriptures speak of Christians' relationship to God, the fact that we are in Him and reflect Him in the world around us. In Luke 12 Jesus tells His disciples to "seek the kingdom of God" and consider eternal life as their treasure (verses 31-34) "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Then, in verses 35-36, He adds, "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately." Jesus continues speaking in this same manner, concluding in verse 40, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Clearly Jesus is warning His disciples that they must hold fast to Him and eternal life as one would hold on to treasure at all costs, remaining faithful to Him so that when He returns, which could be at any time (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:2-11), they will be ready for His coming.
The second passage of scripture which comes to mind when I hear someone speak of "the light of the world" is John 1:1-14, a passage which speaks of Jesus. Often we speak of Him as "the Word of God" and so He is (verses 1 and 14 of this passage). However, He is also "the light of men", "the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world" (verses 4 and 9). Verses 10-13 explain that only the lives of those who received Him, who accepted Him as Lord and Savior, were lit by Him, only they became spiritual children of God. Many other scriptures refer to Jesus as the light of the world. Here are some of them: Luke 2:32, John 3:19-21, John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:46, 1 John 1:5, and Revelation 21:23.
Ephesians 5:1-14 combines these two thoughts about "the light of the world" by speaking of Jesus and those who follow Him. Verse 1 tells Christians to imitate Jesus. Verses 2-7 tell how to imitate Him. Verses 8-13 tell why we must imitate Him: because we are children of light, therefore we must expose evil rather than be part of the darkness. Verse 14 concludes with the admonition, "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
Let us do so.
by Michael Hurst