+ 5th Sunday after the Epiphany – February 8th, 2026 +
Series A: Isaiah 58:3-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Jesus does not say you are a Tesla, now go plug in at a charging station for a while until you’re fully charged.
Jesus does not say run like a hamster on a science experiment treadmill power generator till the bulb burns bright enough.
Jesus does not say you must become light so fire up that inner nuclear reactor of faith.
Jesus does not say that you are the little light bulb that could. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.
But instead…you are. You are. You are.
Jesus does not talk to you like Yoda talks to Luke Skywalker telling you to search your feelings for the light.
No. Jesus simply says, you are. He promises. He makes a holy declaration.
You are the light of the world.
When it comes to the Christian faith. When it comes to our identity in Christ. When it comes to you are as his baptized child, there is no such thing as energy independence.
The same Jesus who said…“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” …also declares you to be children of light, not darkness. Children of the day, not the night. Children of the heavenly Father, not the father of lies. Children of life, not of death. Children of resurrection, not the grave.
You are not who you say you are. Not who the world says you are. Not who your sinful flesh says you are. Not who your past sins and failures say you are. Not who the serpent with whispering accusations lying in your ears says you are: full of fears and guilt and shame and weakness.
You are who Christ declares you to be. You are the light of the world.
It is for us as it was for the psalmist… you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.
Apart from Christ we were what creation was before Genesis 1: chaos and void and darkness and nothingness. Then, as he did in the beginning, Jesus, the Word of God declares, “Let there be light.” And it just as it was in the first creation, so too, he makes you a new creation. “You are the light of the world.”
The same Lord who called light and life out darkness and chaos, says you are the light of the world. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Apart from Christ we were what Moses was before the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness. wandering exiles. Lost in the night. Unholy, adrift in the dark.
But then same Lord Jesus who appeared to Moses in the fiery light of the burning bush is the same one who comes to you and declares:
you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Apart from Christ we were what Israel was without God’s presence in the blazing pillar of smoke and fire. Alone in the wilderness. Alone in their idolatry. Alone with sin and the haunting hole of the grave.
But then the same Lord who stood between Israel and Pharaoh’s army in the pillar of fire, who filled the tabernacle with his holy presence in the smoke and cloud and blazing glory, who led his people through the wilderness following the light of his holiness is the same Lord who says:
at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Jesus is your light and life. Jesus gives you light and life. Jesus declares and makes you his light.
You and I are the moon, reflecting the light of Christ. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus does not say this to shine the spotlight on your works. He does not say this to put you out on to center stage for a round of applause when all the lights come up. He does not say this so that you and others gather around your good works like campers huddled around a campfire.
Jesus says this to you that you and I would be who he declares us to be. Who he has made us to be. Who he says we are.
You are the light of the world. let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and…glorify you? Me? No. But rather, our Father who is in heaven.
The same heavenly Father whose only begotten Son is God of God; light of Light to be born in the darkness of the Bethlehem, rescue us out of darkness and death and the grave by going into the black night of that Good Friday afternoon. Covered in blood. Soaked in sweat. Hanging in the pitch black on a cursed tree. Breath by agonizing breath, making his way through the valley of the shadow of death for you and for me and for us all.
And there on the cross, the God who said, “Let there be light” that filled creation is also the God who says, “It is finished” and accomplishes your redemption. The God who came down into the darkness, was laid in the abyss of the grave is the same God whose death destroys the power of death and whose resurrection is your victory, light, and life.
In this dark and dreary world do not forget who and whose you are. In Jesus you are the light of the world.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment