Jesus is light.

The book of John introduces Jesus this way: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all people” (John 1:4). Later Jesus described himself with similar words: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world”—and he was talking about all who follow him. This does not mean we are the light source as Jesus is; but in this way Jesus challenged his followers to reflect his light. When Jesus lives in our hearts and guides our actions, people around us see his light reflected in us.

When our family lived in New Mexico, we saw many Navajo hooghans—one-room dwellings with one lamp for the entire house. This setting, unlike other homes with many rooms, helps us understand Jesus’ teaching about a lamp that “gives light to everyone in the house.”

A dear colleague shared about a special moment he had with his mother just before he was ordained as a minister. She said she was proud of him and prayed that he would have a successful ministry. “But always remember,” she said, “the person you really are is the person you are at home.”

May Jesus shine brightly through you—especially at home.

Jesus came into the world to become the Lamb of God who would die for all our sins. This is why he made his final trip to Jerusalem, why he had his final lessons and prayers with his disciples, and why he went to Gethsemane to pray: His time had come!

Jesus told his closest followers, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Acutely aware of his impending death on the cross, he asked his friends, “Stay here and keep watch with me.” Pray with me. Please!

Though our own experiences cannot compare to what Jesus went through, we can follow his example and ask others for prayer.

Fifty years ago, when I was a pastor in New Mexico, I had gallbladder surgery, and my recovery went poorly. One morning the surgeon said to my wife, “Now don’t you cry, or I’ll start crying too.” I was "standing in the need of prayer" for my body and my spirit.

During my weeks in the hospital, one of my faithful visitors was an unassuming Christian man, Coolidge Begay. Living in a Navajo family camp south of Gallup, twice my age and with limited English, he came faithfully to sit and pray with me.

When your neighbor is in trouble, regardless of what you can or can’t do for them, you can pray!

The roofs of thousands of Florida homes were badly damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Soon afterward, a humorous story circulated about three mothers in a restaurant. One spoke proudly of her lawyer son, and another of her son, a doctor. But when the third mother said that her son was a roofer, all the customers stormed her table to ask for his phone number.

James and John did not yet understand what Jesus was all about—but they knew it was BIG, and they wanted a special place in whatever it was. So their mother made this special request: “Make my boys your number one and your number two!”

The ten other disciples were furious, because they too wanted to be first in Jesus’ order of power and privilege.

Jesus called a meeting to clarify his guiding principles. In government and most other systems, the highest positions have the greatest authority—but “not so with you,” Jesus said. To follow Jesus is to love your neighbors for his sake. A top follower of Jesus is a top servant.

This is the lesson Jesus reiterated when he washed his disciples’ feet, the night before he went to the cross: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).

This lakeside town had an unusual problem. Visitors were sometimes met by a naked man who screamed at people! He would be bound in chains and placed under guards, only to break free and roam around again.

But things were different when Jesus came. The demons possessing this man knew Jesus and were afraid of him. Incredibly, Jesus healed the man by allowing the demons to go into a herd of pigs. And the next thing we know, the man was “sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind.”

A crowd gathered. They saw the man in his right mind. They saw the pigs drowned and floating in the water. They saw Jesus. And how did they react? They were terrified, and instead of welcoming Jesus to their neighborhood, they asked him to leave!

How did the healed man respond? He begged to stay with Jesus! But Jesus told him to go back to the very people who had asked him to leave, and to tell them all about what God had done for him.

Now here is good news: Jesus still changes lives today—some­times quietly in faithful Christian living, and sometimes dramatically through a radical life change.

What kind of neighbors are we? When we see Jesus at work, do we shut down in fear, or do we speak up about what the Lord is doing for us?

Some offenses are so deeply hurtful that it can take time and healing to be ready to let them go.

In Jesus’ parable, the debt that the unforgiving servant had built up was a huge one, yet the king had compassion and released him of all obligation. That guy represents you and me. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us, to pay the debt for all our sin against God (Romans 5:8-11). We have been set free!

As people who have been given a clean slate, can we, in turn, forgive others who have sinned against us? That’s much easier said than done, especially when the world tells us to stand up for our rights, get revenge, and cut ties with anyone who hurts us. In cases of abuse or danger, we do need to maintain safety, but to hold on to hatred makes us miserable.

There was a man who nearly destroyed my life. It took many years before I could tell him, in the presence of others, that God has helped me to forgive him. In response to God’s grace, how could I not do that?

Forgiveness means loving our enemies. Forgiveness means swallowing our pride. For­give­ness means trusting God with the outcome.

The woman who was brought to Jesus had been “caught in the act” of adultery, and everyone knew she was guilty. They probably also knew that the religious leaders didn’t care about her but were just trying to trick Jesus.

So how did Jesus respond? Notice how he did not respond. He did not further shame the woman publicly. Nor did he debate the religious laws of the day. He didn’t even ask, “Where’s the man who was with her?”

Jesus took his time. He bent down and wrote on the ground, even as they kept ques­tioning. When the time was right, Jesus stood up and shifted the focus from the woman to her accusers: “If you are without sin, go ahead and start throwing stones.”

The woman’s accusers drifted away, one by one. And ­finally, when only the woman remained standing there, Jesus did not shame her further by lecturing her. He simply said to her, kindly and clearly, “Go and live a changed life!”

Neighbors can do bad things. A coworker can embezzle thousands of dollars from a ­local charity. A teenager can get drunk, wreck the family car, and need to get bailed out of jail. A young dad can cheat on his children’s mother.

How do we respond? If you are without sin, go ahead and feel superior, shun them, put them down! But if we too are sinners, let’s do as Jesus did.

Differences tend to divide: boys and girls, abled and disabled, rich and poor, black and white. In the Navajo language, the word for stranger is the same as for enemy, with the meaning depending on the context. Relating across differences can be tricky and sometimes difficult.

The Roman centurion knew that Jews didn’t like Romans much—and Jesus was a Jew. So that may have been why the centurion asked some Jewish elders to see if Jesus would come and heal his servant, who was sick and dying. The elders told Jesus that the centurion was a good man and had done helpful things for the Jews. Although I think Jesus would have said “Yes” anyway, he agreed to go and meet this Roman.

Before Jesus arrived, though, the centurion sent him another message: “I know you have ­authority, so all you have to do is say the word, and my servant will be healed.” And Jesus did!

In this story there is no hint of prejudice in Jesus. He headed directly to the Roman’s house. And then, when the Roman suggested that Jesus could simply heal his servant from a distance, Jesus did that. And he praised and honored the man’s faith! Jew or Roman, faith is faith.

To imitate Jesus is to love our neighbors; difference does not matter.

We often think of enemies in connection with war: enemies live in other countries and on other continents.

But Jesus is focusing much closer to home: the neighbor who throws loud all-night parties, the uncle who is abusive, the kid who bullies your little brother. We are angry with them. We would like to see them corrected, perhaps even punished!

And yet Jesus tells us to love them! That doesn’t necessarily mean feeling good about them. I love my daughters, and it is good to spend time with them. But that’s not what Jesus means here. The love word he uses suggests action; Jesus is telling us to act in a loving way toward people who are difficult to love.

Jesus even tells us to pray for them. We can talk with God about them and ask God to guide and bless them. We can confess our fears and our ­anger. We can ask God to show us the image of God in them. We can ask for insight into why they might act as they do.

God does not expect us to make friends with people who disrespect us, or to tolerate abuse from them. But as we faithfully pray for them, God will help us think compassionately about them, and begin to act kindly toward them, and even learn to speak truth to them with love and respect.

People have complained that in sermons about this parable, it seems their pastor wants to make them feel guilty. After all, they have worked hard for the possessions they have. Their perseverance, not privilege, has earned them an expensive house and an extensive travel budget. They figure they are entitled to enjoy it all.

Some people have wrongly ­assumed that Jesus sees wealth as a barrier to eternal reward. But the point is not about money or the lack of it. What matters is the attitude of the heart and the pattern of behavior. Jesus said it is easier “for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God (Luke 18:25).

Jesus came not to teach a money management course but to model true humility and extravagant generosity (grace) in all aspects of life. He taught that “anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Sadly, the goal of building a big bank account can distract us from the dire needs of people who are financially challenged.

As Christ-followers, regardless of our income level, we can share with others. Rather than rushing past a homeless neighbor or an unemployed friend, we can open our wallets and bless them. We can see them not as lesser than we are, but as equals.

Jesus told this parable to highlight some key ways to live out the Golden Rule: “Do to ­others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).

If you read the entire parable, you will notice that Jesus links sacrificial hospitality with eternal reward. He goes so far as to say that the way we treat other imagebearers of God is the way we treat God himself. We love God by loving others.

We may nod in agreement and then give some money or food to a homeless shelter or a food pantry. But Jesus specifically says, “You gave me something to eat . . . you invited me in . . . you clothed me . . . you came to visit me.” Contributions coupled with personal involvement are a God-honoring combination.

There are people in your community today who are feeling neglected and forgotten, especially those whose situations may cause them to feel ashamed. Think of someone struggling with mental health issues, loneliness, abuse, guilt, job loss, financial crisis, marital trouble, or children not walking with God. Ask God to bring someone to your mind, and reach out personally with a card, call, visit, or coffee invitation.

Consider it a date with Jesus; you might just see him in them, and they may see him in you.