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Being the Light of the World
Being the Light of the World
David W Palmer
Jesus called and trained twelve apprentice leaders/apostles to replicate his work and ministry. He primarily did this on the job, and by having them yoked to him in the field (See: Mat. 11:30). But occasionally, he took his protégés aside for some more direct classroom-style teaching. During one of these sessions, he said:
(Matthew 5:14–16 DKJV) “It is you who are the light of the world; a town that is situated on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} You don’t light a candle and put it under a clay pot, but on a candlestick, and it shines light to all who are in the house. {16} In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus says we are to be “the light of the world.” Yet, we also know that he said that he was the light of the world:
(John 9:5 NKJV) “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
So, how do we become the light of the world? Obviously, seeing Jesus said that he is “the light of the world,” we need to let him live through us. Thankfully, to help us understand how practically to do this, he also said:
(John 8:12 NKJV) 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.”
In this passage, Jesus shows his disciples how to “have the light of life.” It’s simple; follow him! But why does he say it will be the light of “life”? What does that mean? To get the full picture, we need to understand John’s gospel and his purpose for writing it; we can discover this by looking at the way he introduced it in his opening passage—his prologue:
(John 1:1–4 NKJV) In the beginning was the word … in Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The “life” is in the word—the living Word of God. So it was the living Word who supplied the “light of life” that made Jesus into the “light of the world.” Let’s unpack this some more.
Life flows through words:
(John 6:63 NKJV) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (See also: Prov. 4:20–22 ”... my words … are life …” and John 12:50 “His command is life everlasting.”)
So it was the words—the living words that Jesus heard from his Father—that gave him the constant supply of life, and “the life was the light.” To put this another way; it was “revelation” from God (revelation means revealing, or showing, and this in turn is related to light) that is defined as the “light of men.” When you hear from God by revelation of his word, you can “see” what is going on—the truth behind the facts, you can “see” what things really mean, and you can “see” what you should do, etc. The living words from God bring the light of understanding into any dark, un-illuminated, situation.
Jesus knew what to say, what to do, and how to operate because he was receiving a constant stream of living word, revelation—light from heaven. This was then able to shine for others to see—to enlighten them. It showed Jesus how to solve problems, and what to do, etc. For example, when needing to go to heal Lazarus, but hindered by death-threats, Jesus stayed where he was an extra two days. But then suddenly he knew what to do, and how to do it safely. Let’s allow him to explain:
(John 11:7–10 NKJV) Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” {8} The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” {9} Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. {10} But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
After the two days of waiting, Jesus knew what to do; he had received revelation (light) from heaven. His Father showed him; so he knew it would be safe, and that a brilliant outcome would result.
This is also how we become the light of the world. If we hear living word from Jesus; if we see the light of revelation with him as he did with his Father; and if we follow it, say it, and do what he shows us, we will walk in the works he prepared for us to walk in (Eph. 2:10). As a result, Jesus said that “your light” will “shine before men, that they may see your good works (which are wrought in God) and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
God wants to show you things today—revelations (light) from heaven. He wants you to imitate what you see with him, say what you hear from him, and do what he reveals to you. As you do, you will be the light of the world—bringing light, life, revelation, healing, wisdom, insight, knowledge, solutions, and love to those who see and who are drawn to the light. God doesn’t want this light hidden; he wants you to be the “city on a hill,” the lamp on a stand, the light of the world, but not the candle hidden under a clay pot.
Today, follow Jesus, imitate him; receive the “light of life,” and then let it shine!
(Matthew 5:14–16 AMP) “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; {15} nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. {16} Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
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By DAVID W. PALMERBeing the Light of the World
David W Palmer
Jesus called and trained twelve apprentice leaders/apostles to replicate his work and ministry. He primarily did this on the job, and by having them yoked to him in the field (See: Mat. 11:30). But occasionally, he took his protégés aside for some more direct classroom-style teaching. During one of these sessions, he said:
(Matthew 5:14–16 DKJV) “It is you who are the light of the world; a town that is situated on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} You don’t light a candle and put it under a clay pot, but on a candlestick, and it shines light to all who are in the house. {16} In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus says we are to be “the light of the world.” Yet, we also know that he said that he was the light of the world:
(John 9:5 NKJV) “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
So, how do we become the light of the world? Obviously, seeing Jesus said that he is “the light of the world,” we need to let him live through us. Thankfully, to help us understand how practically to do this, he also said:
(John 8:12 NKJV) 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.”
In this passage, Jesus shows his disciples how to “have the light of life.” It’s simple; follow him! But why does he say it will be the light of “life”? What does that mean? To get the full picture, we need to understand John’s gospel and his purpose for writing it; we can discover this by looking at the way he introduced it in his opening passage—his prologue:
(John 1:1–4 NKJV) In the beginning was the word … in Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The “life” is in the word—the living Word of God. So it was the living Word who supplied the “light of life” that made Jesus into the “light of the world.” Let’s unpack this some more.
Life flows through words:
(John 6:63 NKJV) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (See also: Prov. 4:20–22 ”... my words … are life …” and John 12:50 “His command is life everlasting.”)
So it was the words—the living words that Jesus heard from his Father—that gave him the constant supply of life, and “the life was the light.” To put this another way; it was “revelation” from God (revelation means revealing, or showing, and this in turn is related to light) that is defined as the “light of men.” When you hear from God by revelation of his word, you can “see” what is going on—the truth behind the facts, you can “see” what things really mean, and you can “see” what you should do, etc. The living words from God bring the light of understanding into any dark, un-illuminated, situation.
Jesus knew what to say, what to do, and how to operate because he was receiving a constant stream of living word, revelation—light from heaven. This was then able to shine for others to see—to enlighten them. It showed Jesus how to solve problems, and what to do, etc. For example, when needing to go to heal Lazarus, but hindered by death-threats, Jesus stayed where he was an extra two days. But then suddenly he knew what to do, and how to do it safely. Let’s allow him to explain:
(John 11:7–10 NKJV) Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” {8} The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” {9} Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. {10} But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
After the two days of waiting, Jesus knew what to do; he had received revelation (light) from heaven. His Father showed him; so he knew it would be safe, and that a brilliant outcome would result.
This is also how we become the light of the world. If we hear living word from Jesus; if we see the light of revelation with him as he did with his Father; and if we follow it, say it, and do what he shows us, we will walk in the works he prepared for us to walk in (Eph. 2:10). As a result, Jesus said that “your light” will “shine before men, that they may see your good works (which are wrought in God) and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
God wants to show you things today—revelations (light) from heaven. He wants you to imitate what you see with him, say what you hear from him, and do what he reveals to you. As you do, you will be the light of the world—bringing light, life, revelation, healing, wisdom, insight, knowledge, solutions, and love to those who see and who are drawn to the light. God doesn’t want this light hidden; he wants you to be the “city on a hill,” the lamp on a stand, the light of the world, but not the candle hidden under a clay pot.
Today, follow Jesus, imitate him; receive the “light of life,” and then let it shine!
(Matthew 5:14–16 AMP) “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; {15} nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. {16} Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.”