I am a Jesus pusher!!! “You are the light of the world. A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). The verb of our statement is startling. There are two Greek words translated “cannot,” which form the main verb. These two words are “ou dunamai.” The Greek word “ou” is the word “not,” placing the negative statement. The main part of the verb is “dunamai,” which is a part of the word group containing “dunamis,” from which our English word “dynamite” comes. It is explosive in nature, often translated “mighty deeds.” “Dunamis” not a focus on the power of the resource; it focuses on the action of the resource as it accomplishes something. If Jesus had positively stated this, it would say, “The nature of a city set on a hill reveals itself.” The people painted their city buildings with white limestone, consistently whitewashing them. The white limestone gleamed in the sun and even shone in the moonlight. Each home had a lamp or candle in its window. The moving power of light reflected and radiated from this city, giving it strong visibility. The resource and power residing in the town moved to make it known.
This verb, “dunamai,” is in the passive voice. The subject is not responsible for this visibility. It is not the city or its building that made them visible, but the location’s power. Jesus described the Kingdom of God. I am helpless. When His Person’s strength contains my helplessness, an action takes place that is far beyond me. I am not responsible for it; I do not produce it. My responsibility is to respond to Him. When His resource flows through me, the Kingdom of God is made visible. I am a Jesus pusher!!!