I am a Jesus pusher!!! “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). We must approach this statement with fear and trembling. At first glance, the responsibility is enough to break the spirit of any man. The claim Jesus made concerning Himself is the imagery of “light!” “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” (John 8:12). In another setting Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). Old Testament prophecy pointed to Jesus as the light, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16; Isaiah 9:2). We must note that Jesus is never refer to as “salt.” Neither He nor any New Testament writer used this imagery regarding Jesus, which is all the more reason to tremble as we move into this verse.
The moment the subject of light appears we are drawn to John’s Gospel because “light” is a key word in his account. In his prologue he said, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The Word (Logos) means God joined the created. Jesus’ manifested “life” is the essence of the “light.” This “life/light” came into our world; its brilliance penetrated the darkness (John 1:5). Is God, the expression of light, becoming one with humanity? Is this the new covenant, the fullness of the Spirit? Can I be filled with Jesus as He was filled with His Father? I am a Jesus pusher!!!