Variety: Matthew 5v14-16
14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
MATTHEW 5:14–16
In the Sermon on the Mount, we get front row seats to hear Jesus speaking to his closest followers – and a large crowd listening in. As he sat on the hillside with people gathered to hear his teaching, Jesus illustrated profound truth with everyday objects.
Imagine yourself on a hillside in Galilee. You and a small group of friends are sat down with Jesus and a large crowd has gathered around you. What can you see? Smell? Feel? Hear? Jesus draws those things into his teaching. He teaches wonderful spiritual truths that are also truly practical, truly everyday. Following his example, throughout August we’re going to explore four everyday objects that point to the extraordinary call of discipleship.
First up, on an exposed hillside you can’t help but be aware of the scorching heat of the sun, the cold of the rain, or the coming darkness of a pre-electricity night, when the stars and moon can only bring so much light.
Jesus’ audience would have all understood his meaning when he said, ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.’
When you’re dealing with little clay oil lamps, placement is critical. They must be high and steady. A low lamp is of little value and a precariously high lamp is dangerous. A lamp on its sturdy stand, in its appointed place, brings light to all the right things. As in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:31–40), lamps are a reminder of God’s presence with his people.
As it was for those first disciples on the hillside, so it is for us. We are the light of the world, the presence of God resides in us, and we take it out into his world day by day. We are placed carefully and deliberately in his world to bring light.
When you’re in your God-appointed place – at work, school, on your street, with your friends – you’re there to bring the light of the kingdom of God. You’re there to shape the culture around you, to resist the darkness of despair, to perform radical acts of generosity, to highlight beauty and goodness, and to challenge injustice.
When you turn on the lights this evening, remember: you are the light of the world.
Jo Trickey, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity