I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthew 5:15). The entire purpose of the “light” imagery is visibility. The lamp is to be placed on the lamp stand to shine throughout the home. However, every heart’s carnal self-sourcing readily embraces this because self wants to be visible—many of our battles with each other flow from not being adequately recognized and appreciated. We leave the church, quit our jobs, and divorce our wives because we are not elevated to our choice’s proper lamp stand. It is annoying and offensive when the applause for our performance is not loud enough; indeed, we deserve better.
But the discussion of Jesus does not have the tone of self-promotion. How could it? It begins with “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). The Greek word “ptochos,” translated “poor,” is the most important Greek word for poverty-stricken. It comes from the idea of cringing in shame with one hand covering your face; the other hand is extended to receive. Tremendous desperation is involved. It is “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). In this condition, one receives the fullness of Christ; in this embrace, God forms the Kingdom of Heaven. Who would want their helplessness placed on a lamp stand for all to see? It could only be the person who embraces this helplessness and becomes captured by Jesus. He recognizes the light is not a reflection of himself but of Jesus, who is within him. We desire to be visible, so we can be invisible, making Him visible. Everyone must see Jesus! We are Jesus pushers!!!