Over the next couple of weeks we are going to have a look at some of the parables of our Lord, beginning with those found in Matthew’s Gospel, and look briefly at what they say to us today.
‘You are the light of the world…’ (Matthew 5:14-15)
‘I am the light of the world…’ is one of Jesus well known I Am sayings found in John’s Gospel but here Jesus applies it to those who would be His Disciples. In many ways this might be taken as a great compliment, yet when Jesus said this to His Disciples He was effectively saying that they should be like Himself.
It’s also worth noting that in Biblical times Jerusalem was spoken of as being ‘a light to the Gentiles..’ However, we should also note that although Jerusalem may indeed have been thought of this way, it was God who ‘lit Israel’s lamp.’ In other words, Jerusalem, and indeed the people of Israel, was called to reflect the light of God for all to see.
So it should be with us as Christians as we seek to bear witness to the Gospel message and the love of Jesus Christ in the world today. We are not called to produce our own light, so to speak, rather we are called to reflect the light of Christ in all we are and do, seeking as best we can to follow His teaching and emulate Him at all times. Therefore, any light that comes from us should come from knowing the presence of our Lord in our heart and should be a light which will show others what it means to know Christ in their lives and then guide them to Him that they too may come to know and follow this light for themselves.