I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Nor do they light a lamp (luchnos) and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand (luchnia), and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthews 5:15). The Greek word “luchnos” refers to a portable lamp fed with oil, not a candle as commonly translated. Lamps were made of clay or metal, had a wick, and were fueled with oil. “Luchnos” gives content and becomes an explanation for the statement, “You are the light of the world.” When analyzed, this becomes the same form used for Jesus’ statement, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). In both cases, the statement begins with a pronoun in the nominative case. The Greek word (phos) translated “light” is also a noun in the nominative case and connected with a form of the Greek verb “eimi,” translated “am” and “are.” “Eimi” is the Greek verb for the great “I am” statements. In other words, “You / I” and “light” are equal; they are words for the same thing.
Jesus is God who set aside everything that made Him different from us; He became a total man. He contained the nature and person of God who is “Light.” He became a lamp from which God displayed His light. “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Jesus is the light of the world because the Light of the world filled Him! Jesus is a prototype of what we are to be; He was the first member of the Kingdom of God. As He became a lamp for the display of light, we are also lamps for the same display. God is light; the nature of God comes to indwell us, causing the display of who He is, “Light.” We are lamps! We are Jesus pushers!!!