John 8:12-20
Jesus is the Light of this World
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Matthew 5:13-16
We are the Light of this World
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
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 18:18-20
Two or More are Gathered in His Name
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
1 Peter 2:12
Live Your Life Like Jesus
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
John 4:34-38
Others May Harvest, What Someone Earlier has Sowed
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
When I first read the Bible, I thought it was okay to read it, study it and learn about Him, mostly on my own...After all isn't learning about Him and what He taught His Disciples of the utmost importance...
But Jesus said many interesting things in His life on earth...He said that "I AM the Light of the world."...Then He says "You are the Light of the world."...He really is the Light of the world, but He knew one day He would be going away and physically leaving the earth...Then one day His immediate Disciples would physically leave the earth and pass on...Then those generations following Him many years later would be the reflection of His Light...It seems that Jesus does not want all of His followers to be passive followers...Followers of Jesus are not to fade into the sunset, or just be part of a crowd...He does not want His followers to appear hidden and not show His Light...He does not want them to be loners (where two or more are gathered in His name -there He is), but He wants followers to spread the good news -to spread His Light, and His Truths to others...Christians are not to hide their Light put but are to plant the seeds of His Light in others...
Jesus' followers are the salt of the earth that gives life its flavor...Salt is not good for anything, if it fails to give other things more flavor...In fact, salt is worthless, if it has no flavor...If His followers lose their ability to talk about Jesus to others, then we have a difficult time to spread the word to the next generation...What good is salt unless it can put spice and put more flavor on things?...What good is the gospel, if we cannot help others have a more abundant life?...Those who spread His seeds, and sprinkles His salt, help others, lead a fuller life -they may not even realize this at first...What you or someone earlier has sown with Christian seeds, may be harvested by some other Christian later...Others realize that when He is in your life, that His Light makes your life better...His followers are to live good lives among others so that others may see this goodness...Christians are to do good deeds, and that goodness and those good deeds will show that we glorify God...
How we have been guided by the Holy Spirit to the Truth is between God and ourselves...But others see us from our outside, and when we work and interact with others, the world sees believers and hears about believers...If they know that we are Christians, then that is good...Then they can see the Light that we reflect, is about and for our Teacher and Savior...
When we read about the Great Commission, each last generation is to spread the good news about the gospel...It is now our turn...The Disciples have left the earth, and now it is time His current followers spread the Light...And like salt we are to enhance the flavor of life in others...We are not only to read the gospel and things about Jesus -and if an opportunity arises we are to tell others...That would be like someone building a city on a tall hill and not wanting it to be seen...We are His Light now and He wants us to shine in His Light...