Jesus said: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Jesus said: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Interesting.
The image of Jesus as the light of the world resonates as inviting and inclusive, a way to express that God’s love and presence are for all. It’s a big claim, but in Jesus we see a light from God worthy of such an all-encompassing image.
The image of us, followers of Jesus, as the light of the world is a claim that seems aspirational at best and grandiose at worst. We are aware of too many ways that we are not bearers of light, and it seems out of place for Jesus to make this claim about us.
Jesus said: “I am the light of the world”. Jesus said: “You are the light of the world”. Interesting.
Perhaps a way to make some sense of these two statements together is not to think of them as claims about the way things are, but as revelations about the way God made things to be.
When Jesus spoke of himself as the light of the world, there wasn’t a lot to show for it. But Jesus insisted, persisted, that the light of compassion, love, forgiveness, justice shining from him are the true power from God for this world.
When Jesus spoke of his followers as light for the world, it wasn’t that they were better than others, it was that they believed the light of life in Jesus was what their lives and other’s lives were meant for.
So each day, together, we insist, persist, believe, that this world was made for God’s light, and we believe that such light is for sharing with all.