Light Of The World

Light Of The World

4th Sunday in Easter
Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines
May 08, 2022

Readings: Numbers 27:12-23
Acts 13:15-16, 26-33
John 10:22-30

Some of the events we have been hearing at this time did not really happen in Easter but are nevertheless relevant to the season of Easter. The Feast of Dedication took place in winter, on the 25 of December. It is also known as Hanukkah or The Feast of Lights. It was told that in 175 BC, the King of Syria at that time loved everything Greek. He basically wanted to destroy anything Jewish and replace it with Greek culture and influence. The king made it difficult for the Jews to be living because he was very cruel. In the temple there was so much profanity and the altar was used for evil purposes. Judas Maccabeus was a Jewish priest who fought against this by cleaning and purifying the temple, which took him three years. He removed all the Greek statues and installed lights instead. Even the Jewish homes were filled with lights. It was told that a candlestick was used to light their surroundings, the oil did not run out and lasted for 8 days. They rededicated the temple as a symbol that the light has been restored to the people.

The gospel tells us that Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s portico. The Jews who were gathered there asked Him, “when are you going to tell us the truth? If you are really the Christ, why can’t you just tell us?” Jesus answered them, “how many times have I told you but you would not believe? You are not My sheep. My sheep know My voice, and I know them. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” We try to find light from different sources and yet Christ is the Light of the world. He shares His light with us. We need to ask ourselves this question, “Is He the light of the world to us? Have we accepted and received Him as the light?” James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all. Christ came to destroy the works of the enemy and to restore us. He gives us light. He gives us hope, peace and security to the soul. No longer are we in bondage to slavery. Even our consciences are made clear, able to judge between right and wrong. He is the light, the provision in bringing us the moral standard. Why has the world gone so low in the area of morality? Because they have lost the light. The one thing we have the right to, is the knowledge of Christ and who He is. We have the vision and understanding to know these things.

The world tells us that we will die. The flesh may die, but our spirit lives on. God wants us to understand that the light has been given to us. The challenge for us is to let our light shine. Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We should be declaring our light to the world by letting it shine from within us. We are to let others see this light. 1 Corinthians 6:20 “You were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”

People should see that we are different. We are to be like Christ. We are the light of the world. It is our task as ambassadors to bring people back to Christ. We are to be the source of hope to others. During the Easter season, we should not hide our light but let it be seen through our lives.

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