#12 The Light, the City, and the Hill

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set up on hill cannot be hid.

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It is sobering that Jesus would call us something that he is. Jesus is truly the light of the world before we were (or are). If there’s any light in us, it’s that which cometh forth from that true Light. We bear witness of that Light. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:6-10)

Jesus prayed, “The glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou has sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:22,23) When Simeon took baby Jesus up in his arms, he said, “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) For Jesus to say that we are the light of the world is humbling and glorious for it speaks of our separation unto Him.  It’s speaks of our friendship with Him; our closeness; our relationship; our new position in Jesus.  Paul said, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8) O what glorious affection to be called a child of the Father of lights! (James 1:17) Yet how humbling, for the servant is not greater than his lord. (John 15:19)

This fact reminds us of the context we are in. The preceding eleven verses are a preparation for a prophet’s persecution.  Three of those verses declare the very word persecution. It is within reason, if one is honest, that the preceding verse is also dealing with persecution when it speaks of being “cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” When we endeavor to understand our bibles, we must examine whether the writer continues his discourse, lest we suppose him to make a transition to another argument, when, in fact, he is prosecuting the same topic.

We are hated because He was hated first.  We suffer because He suffered first. We are persecuted because He was persecuted first.  When Jesus speaks of us, he speaks of himself. Think of these beatitudes:

• Jesus became poor. “…for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
• Jesus mourned. “…a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:2)
• Jesus is meek. “…learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29)
• Jesus knows hunger and thirst. “…he did eat nothing… he afterward hungered”, ” Jesus… saith, I thirst.” (Luke 4:2, John 19:28)
• Jesus is merciful. “…looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 21)
• Jesus is pure in heart. “…even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:3)
• Jesus is the Prince of Peace. “…and his name shall be called… The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
• Jesus was reviled. “…they… railed on him, wagging their heads… the chief priests mocking…  And they that were crucified with him reviled him.” (Mark15:29-32)
• Against Jesus, they said all manner of evil. “For many bare false witness against him” (Mark 15:56)

Jesus is the beatitudes; and blessed are ye if we will be as Jesus was first before us. Likewise, we are light because He is the light of the world. Therefore, remaining in the context, when Jesus speaks of that city on an hill, it is natural to be reminded of the old rugged cross that stood on that hill far away; the place of the skull; the place called Golgotha; a place called Calvary; where they crucified Him. There upon that hill, He was lifted up for all the world to see. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” (John 3:14) That hill is not a place of admiration and wonder, but the emblem of suffering and shame.

But it was there that God offered his Son to a lost and dying world. Now, let the whole world behold the Lamb of God! (Isaiah 45:22) Behold, the veil of the temple is rent in twain! (Matthew 27:51) Behold, the mystery which has been hid from ages and generations is now made manifest! (Colossians 1:26) Jesus, the Saviour of the world, cannot be hid.  If Jesus cannot be hid, neither can we. Those disciples that sat on the mountain side at Jesus’ feet lived this principle. After Stephen was martyred, a persecution arose, and the disciples of Jesus were scattered all over the place. But they preached Jesus, the hand of the Lord was with them, and the bible says, “a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:19-21) Do you ever wonder if God has changed his ways?

“And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.” (1 Corinthians 1:28)