The Nature of a Disciple: Light
Text: Matt. 5:14-16
Introduction
1. Read Matt. 5:14-16
2. Illustration: Making decisions in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl. "Why," he exclaimed, "when I went a-courtin’ I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark." "Yes," the hired man said wryly," and look what you got!"
3. As salt makes a difference in people’s food, so light makes a difference in their surroundings.
4. Jesus Christ said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12; John 9:5). Here Jesus says, "Ye are the light of the world."
a. What an enormous compliment! God is light, Christ is light, and the believer is said to be "the light of the world."
b. The believer is what God and Christ are: light. No greater compliment could be paid the believer.
5. But note: to be identified with God is an enormous responsibility as well as a compliment. Whatever light is and does, the believer is to be and do.
Proposition: Jesus has called us to be the light of the world, and as such, we are to shine brightly for all to see.
Transition: First, Jesus talks about...
I. Our Nature: Light (14a)
A. You Are the Light of the World
1. Jesus told his disciples "Ye are the light of the world."
2. Light is a universal religious symbol. In the OT as in the NT, it most frequently symbolizes purity as opposed to filth, truth or knowledge as opposed to error or ignorance, and divine revelation and presence as opposed to reprobation and abandonment by God. Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM
3. The disciple is to undergo a radical transformation: he is to become like Christ more and more and to reflect the light of Christ.
4. Eph. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
5. Light does several things. First of all, it chases away the darkness.
a. Illustration: Have you ever turned on a light in the middle of the night? If you have, you know that two things happen: 1) it blinds you temporarily, and 2) it eliminates the darkness in the room.
b. You can now see what you couldn’t see before.
c. You can now see all obstacles in your way.
d. You can find what you’re looking for.
6. Second, light reveals. It opens up the truth of an area, a whole new world, and it clears up the way to the truth and the life.
7. Third, light guides. It directs the way to go, leads along the right path.
B. Being the Light
1. Believers are now the light of the world.
2. Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5).
3. Jesus is no longer in the world, not bodily. His light is now in the lives of believers. Believers are reflections of Him.
4. Unless we are the light of the world, the world will always be in darkness.
5. Unless we reflect Jesus to the world, it will always stumble around in the darkness.
6. Unless we reflect the light of Jesus, the world will never know the truth.
7. Unless we reflect the light of Jesus, the world will never be able to find its way.
Transition: Next, Jesus talks about...
II. Our Job: Shine (14b-15)
A. City On a Hill
1. Jesus said "A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
2. The reference to the "city on a hill" is at one level fairly obvious.
a. Often built of white limestone, ancient towns gleamed in the sun and could not easily be hidden.
b. At night the inhabitants’ oil lamps would shed some glow over the surrounding area (cf. Bonnard).
3. If you are truly a disciple of Jesus everyone will know.
a. They will look at you and see Jesus.
b. They will see it in your eyes, your smile, and your life.
c. It will be unmistakable. Like the city on a hill, you won’t be able to hid it.
4. Jesus also said "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."
a. People place lights on stands for them to spread their warm glow.
b. Illustration: At our last campout, Doug had a lantern, and at first it just kind of sat on the ground. However, there all it did was illuminate his feet. Then he took it and hung from a nail on a big tree. Then it lit up our whole campsite.
5. The disciples should continue to reflect the light of their Master, the light of the world.
a. They must not try to conceal their light any more than they would light a lamp and then hide it.
b. Being Christ’s disciples means spreading the light to everyone with whom we have contact.
B. Let It Shine
1. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
a. Won’t hide it under a bushel; no, I’m gonna let it shine.
b. Won’t let Satan poof it out; no, I’m gonna let it shine.
c. Let it shine ’til Jesus comes; I’m gonna let it shine.
d. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
2. Jesus has given us a job in this world, and that is to shine.
3. We are not to let our light go out.
4. We are not to hide our light so that others cannot see.
5. We are to put ourselves out there for all the world to see.
a. Up on a hill where it is unmistakable.
b. Up on a stand where it gives light to all.
6. "I’ve got to shine this light like I’m the only thing burning on a silent night. I’ve got to shine this light."
Transition: Then Jesus talks about...
III. Our Purpose: Give Glory to the Father (16)
A. Glorify Your Father
1. In verse 16, Jesus drives home his point by saying "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
2. What his disciples must show is their "good works," i.e., all righteousness, everything they are and do that reflects the mind and will of God. - Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM
3. We have a tendency to down play good works because so many people think that they can earn their way to heaven by good works.
a. While our good works won’t get us to heaven, that doesn’t mean we don’t need them.
b. Good works don’t produce faith, but faith must produce good works.
c. James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
4. "The good word with out the good walk is of no avail." - Expositor’s Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM
5. However, our works are not to bring praise to us, but to our heavenly Father.
6. Jesus made it clear that there would be no mistaking the source of a believer’s good works. The believer’s light shines not for himself but to reflect the light back to the Father and so direct people to him.
B. Let Them See Jesus
1. Illustration: The glory of God, and, as our only means to glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life. C.S. Lewis.
2. People wonder around all of their lives and claim to not know their purpose.
3. The Christian should never have this problem. Our purpose is to give glory to the Father by letting our light shine.
4. Our purpose is to so reflect the light of Christ that no one can say on the day of Judgment that they didn’t know, because they have seen it in our lives, witness and testimony.
5. Let your light shine brightly that the world may see your good works and give praise to the Father.
Transition: We have a purpose, and that purpose is to shine.
Conclusion
1. For the disciple of Christ, our:
a. Nature is light
b. Job is to shine
c. Purpose is to glorify the Father
2. Are you reflecting the light of Christ?
3. When people look at you what do they see?
4. Let them see Christ!
