“You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Matthew 5:14-16

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Pastor Tom Johnson, February 5, 2017

President Ronald Reagan had a vision of what the United States of America should be. It was a shining city on a hill. President John F. Kennedy said the same thing. Both were quoting John Winthrop, an early colonist more than 300 years before who saw their Massachusetts Bay Colony as a call from God. The idea is that, as a nation, we are a positive example to the rest of the world—that we are a beacon of light to help other peoples navigate their way to freedom and the pursuit of happiness. They are all quoting Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount when he says, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one
after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

In John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world.” Jesus is the light who comes from heaven. He scatters the darkness of sin, evil, and death through his life, death, and resurrection. He brings the brightness of hope and joy—the splendor of forgiveness of eternal life. But here Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” You and I are the light of the world. We are the radiance of God’s glory. We are the brightness of Christ that brings the brilliance of the good news to the nations. As Christ builds his Church on earth—as he gathers us together to be a family of faith—he wants us to be an example to the unbelieving world. He wants Christians to lead the way by how we love God, one another, and the world.

That means the world is watching. People are paying attention to us. Jesus has put us on notice that our behavior as God’s people is being monitored. We have an audience at all times. They are looking to us for a reason to believe. Or to put it an even more frightening way—they are looking for a reason not to believe. Every time there is a scandal in the church we provide another reason for people not to come to church. Right away, Jesus anticipates that it is not as easy as it sounds. It is a challenge. There will be obstacles in the way. And often we ourselves are own obstacle. Jesus calls believers to fulfill their calling to be light to the world. When we fail to accept and love one another—even with all our differences—we add to the cynicism in the world. “See, they are not any different,” the world will say, “They cannot overcome our differences any more than us.” When we back-stab—when we exploit others just as much—when we are just as greedy—when we gossip just as much—when we are just as competitive against one another, we are putting a huge bushel basket over the lamp of the Gospel.

50 years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. lamented the fact that Sunday morning is the most segregated day of the week. The Lord’s Day should not be the day we find people who look just like us or talk like us or think like us. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,” Jesus says, “if you have love for one another.” Sadly, things have changed very little in the last 50 years. It seems that the world knows more about what we Christians do not like and what we are against than anything else. Our negativity is not light. It is darkness. Our lack of love for each other—our failure to do good for those around us will prevent our light from shining. Jesus says when that happens it is absurd. It is just as foolish as lighting a lamp and putting a bushel basket over it. It is as ridiculous as flipping the switch to turn a lamp on in your home and then to put a large garbage bag over it. It is as absurd as turning on your car’s headlights only to spray-paint over the glass.

Jesus says, “Don’t be foolish.” “Let your light shine! When they see positivity—when they experience the acceptance and love of God—when they see true reconciliation between those who were once enemies, they will glorify God.” We do not shine to earn God’s love, we shine because of it. This year we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. One of the common representations of the Reformation in Luther’s day was a hand removing a bushel basket from the light of a candle atop an open Bible. When people heard the good news of Jesus so clearly and when they heard about safe and free communities of faith, people traveled from all over Europe to go to Germany to rediscover the Gospel and take it back with them to their own communities. And so it is still Jesus’ vision for us as the Body of Christ.

“There is something different about those followers of Jesus,” they will say. “Look at how they have come together—of every tribe, nation, tongue, and people. Look at how they forgive their enemies and accept people with such diverse backgrounds. Look at how they believe that no matter how dark one’s past is—with all of the pain, grief, sin, and death—no matter how dark one’s soul can be—the light of Christ will always overcome.” Dear believer, that light shines through you and me. You and I illuminate the world with God’s love. We manifest the glory of God. We the Church reveal what is too often hidden about the Kingdom. Our light and love will be the fuel for the world to also believe. We are entrusted with showing why the death and resurrection of Jesus is still relevant today. We are the light of the world.