Light of the World

thumb|Christ as the True Light by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1526 "Light of the World" is a phrase used by Jesus to describe himself and his disciples in the New Testament.The phrase is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and John. It is closely related to the parables of salt and light and lamp under a bushel, which also appear in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. __NOTOC__ Bible · Films Quotes A The divine in man is our sole ground for believing that there is anything divine in the universe outside of man. Man is the revealer of the divine. At bottom, the world is to be interpreted in terms of joy, but of a joy that includes all the pain, includes it and transforms it and transcends it. The Light of the World is a light that is saturated with the darkness which it has overcome and transfigured. Felix Adler, Life and Destiny (1913), Section 1 : The Meaning of Life Upright generations, young boys and girls in certain developed countries and those in countries of the Third World, have become conscious that to change the world, its myths and is ghosts, is a realistic project and is possible. Some NGOs emerge to protect the material environment and defend the rights of oppressed peoples. For the Church, light of the world, to play her prophetic role she should concretely commit herself in this fight with a view to finding the truth. Bernard Agré, Intervention of Card. Bernard AGRÉ, Archbishop Emeritus of Abidjan (IVORY COAST) (2009) Holy See Press Office B When man, in the exercise of his mechanical function, puts together a structure, he does it by adding one part to another, so that they lie side-by-side in space, and the whole is made up of all the parts added together. But when nature constructs, she follows a different principle – one which man also, when he is functioning not as mechanic but as artist or poet, must strive to follow. In an organic structure it will be found that the parts interpenetrate and, as it were, express each other in a characteristic way, and that often a single part will seem at the same time to be the whole, or to be potentially the whole. And this is the structural principle which, at all levels from the highest to the lowest, Anthroposophy reveals to us as present in the universe itself. Owen Barfield, The Light of the World (February 1954) C I think [the movie Light of the World] will help a lot of pastors.  It should get a lot of people sold—uh, saved. Jack T. Chic, "Meet Jack Chick," an interview with Jimmy Akin (2004) At rest, however, in the middle of everything is the sun. For, in this most beautiful temple, who would place this lamp in another or better position than that from which it can light up the whole thing at the same time? For, the sun is not inappropriately called by some people the lantern of the universe, its mind by others, and its ruler by still others. The Thrice Greatest labels it a visible god, and Sophocles' Electra, the all-seeing. Thus indeed, as though seated on a royal throne, the sun governs the family of planets revolving around it. Alternate translation: Then in the middle of all stands the sun. For who, in our most beautiful temple, could set this light in another or better place, than that from which it can at once illuminate the whole? Not to speak of the fact that not unfittingly do some call it the light of the world, others the soul, still others the governor. Tremigistus calls it the visible God; Sophocles' Electra, the All-seer. And in fact does the sun, seated on his royal throne, guide his family of planets as they circle round him. Nicolaus Copernicus, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (1543), Book 1, Ch. 10, Alternate translation as quoted in Edwin Arthur Burtt in The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Physical Science (1925) D Stephen Fry: Mithras was a saviour sent to Earth to live as a mortal, through whom it was possible for sinners to be reborn into immortal life; he died for our sins but came back to life the following Sunday; he was born of a virgin on December 25th in a manger or, perhaps, a cave, attended by shepherds, and became known as The Light of the World; he had twelve disciples with whom he shared a last meal before dying; his devotees symbolically consumed the flesh and blood of him. Because Mithras was a sun god he was worshipped on Sundays... Alan Davies: Is he a tribute band? QI, Episode D.13: "December" (Christmas Special) F Always, the vision of evolution toward the light. Light is the oldest and most pervasive metaphor in spiritual experience. We speak of enlightenment, the city of light, the Light of the World, children of light, the "white-light experience." Marylin Ferguson, The Aquarian Conspiracy (1980) Full text online , Chapter Eleven, Spiritual Adventure: Connection to the Source G Naphtali: it behooves man to take to heart who it is that hath created him, and who hath developed him from a foul-smelling drop in the womb of woman, who hath brought him to the light of the world, who hath given sight to his eyes, and who hath bestowed the power of motion upon his feet, who maketh him to stand upright, who hath infused the breath of life into him, and who hath imparted of His own pure spirit unto him. Happy the man, therefore, that polluteth not the holy spirit of God within him by doing evil deeds, and well for him if he returns it to his Creator as he received it. Louis Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, vol. II In all times and among many peoples there have ... been men, who were aware of the reality of "visions" and intuitions, of inspirations and sudden thoughts and ideas, men who understood that besides the purely sensuous impression a thought, a flash of intuition, in short know- ledge, may come to the human mind, as it were spon- taneously, at least without any conscious activity of the organ of sensory perception and which leaves an impres- sion of great reality; men who know that the "doors of the mind may be opened" (RV. 9,10,6). Often also the source of this knowledge is divine. The god Agni, the guest among men and his guru, is explicitly called a dhiirii rtasya (RV. 1,67,7), i.e. "stream or 'fountain' of transcendental truth", the inventor of brilliant speech (2,9 ,4 sukrasya vacaso manotii) , who brings the light of the vibrations of inspiration (3 ,10 ,5 vipiim jyotimsi bibhrat). He opens the thoughts of the poets (4,11,2), his are the origins of the specialgifts of the seers (4,11,3), and in 6,9 we find an elaborate description of the relation between the god - who is the light of the world as well as the internal light illumining poets and sages - and the poet who by devout concentration upon the god experiences the inspiration as an ecstasy. Jan Gonda, The Problem of Aryan Origins by K.D. Sethna, Aditya Prakashan, New Delhi, 1992. H If you are really anxious to learn the way to God, He has not left Himself without a witness, nor you without a teacher. Go to the recorded Christ, and look at that history; listen to those words which survive in the Gospels. And go to the living Christ, to Him who has said, "lam the Light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." And dim as may be your outset — more of night than morning in your twilight, as you follow on you shall know the Lord, and with the light that radiates from Himself, your path will shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. James Hamilton (1814-1871), Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 90. Christmas will always be in the hearts of God's children everywhere as they extend a helping hand to a friend in need … as they go about reflecting God's goodness in the little quiet and unheralded expressions of a loving heart … as they share the light of the world with those who live in darkness . Jane Hillsmen in "Christmas" The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the true believer, particularly the religious individual, is a humble person. The truth is that the surrendering and humbling of the self breed pride and arrogance. The true believer is apt to see himself as one of the chosen, the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a prince disguised in meekness, who is destined to inherit this earth and the kingdom of heaven, too. Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Section 14, Chapter 77 (p. 93) K Vi szte szol zemlé: csi sze szol szkvari, sz kim sze bode solila? Nika ne valá vecs: nego da sz vő vr'ze, i szklácsi od lüdi. Vi szte szvetloszt etoga szvêta. Nemore meszto szkrito bidti, stero je na velikom brêgi polo'zeno. Niti ne vu'zgéjo poszvêta: naj ga pod korcz denejo: nego v poszvecsnyek, i szvêti vszêm, ki szo v hi'zi. Tak sze naj szvêti szvetloszt vasa pred lüdmi: da vidijo vasa dobra dela, i dicsijo Ocso vasega, ki je vu nebészaj.The Gospel of Saint Matthew: Salt and light. Nôvi Zákon (1848), rework Sándor Terplán. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. István Küzmics, in Predgovor. Nouvi Zákon Stevan Küzmics, Pokrajinska in študijska knjižnica Murska Sobota 2008. Edit: Franc Kuzmič; Translations: in English Peter Lamovec; in Hungarian: Gabriella Bence; in Slovene: Mihael Kuzmič 978-961-6579-04-9. L My young friend who was taught that she was so sinful the only way an angry God could be persuaded to forgive her was by Jesus dying for her, was also taught that part of the joy of the blessed in heaven is watching the torture of the damned in hell. A strange idea of joy. But it is a belief limited not only to the more rigid sects. I know a number of highly sensitive and intelligent people in my own communion who consider as a heresy my faith that God's loving concern for his creation will outlast all our willfulness and pride. No matter how many eons it takes, he will not rest until all of creation, including Satan, is reconciled to him, until there is no creature who cannot return his look of love with a joyful response of love... Origen held this belief and was ultimately pronounced a heretic. Gregory of Nyssa, affirming the same loving God, was made a saint. Some people feel it to be heresy because it appears to deny man his freedom to refuse to love God. But this, it seems to me, denies God his freedom to go on loving us beyond all our willfulness and pride. If the Word of God is the light of the world, and this light cannot be put out, ultimately it will brighten all the dark corners of our hearts and we will be able to see, and seeing, will be given the grace to respond with love — and of our own free will. Madeleine L'Engle, The Crosswicks Journal, The Irrational Season (1977) N Therefore I adjure you not to go astray and serve other gods beside Him whom our fathers made choice of. You can perceive somewhat of His power in the creation of man. From head to foot is man wonderfully made. With his ears he hears, with his eyes he sees, with his brain he comprehends, with his nose he smells, with the tubes of his throat he utters sounds, with his gullet he swallows food, with his tongue he articulates, with his mouth he forms words, with his hands he does his work, with his heart he meditates, with his spleen he laughs, with his liver he waxes angry, with his stomach he crushes his food, with his feet he walks, with his lungs he breathes, and with his kidneys he makes resolves, and none of his organs undergoes a change in function, each performs its own. It behooves man to take to heart who it is that hath created him, and who hath developed him from a foul-smelling drop in the womb of woman, who hath brought him to the light of the world, who hath given sight to his eyes, and who hath bestowed the power of motion upon his feet, who maketh him to stand upright, who hath infused the breath of life into him, and who hath imparted of His own pure spirit unto him. Happy the man, therefore, that polluteth not the holy spirit of God within him by doing evil deeds, and well for him if he returns it to his Creator as he received it." Naphtali son of Jacob, as cited in Legends of the Jews (1909) R Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth – more than ruin, more even than death. Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible; thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habits; thought is anarchic and lawless, indifferent to authority, careless of the well-tried wisdom of the ages. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. It sees man, a feeble speck, surrounded by unfathomable depths of silence; yet it bears itself proudly, as unmoved as if it were lord of the universe. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man. Bertrand Russell, Why Men Fight (1917), pp. 178-179 S Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world. Helen Schucman, A Course in Miracles, W-62 You are an eternal being of love you are the light of the world.Mike Scott (musician), "E.B.O.L." The night has a thousand eyes, and the day but one; Yet the light of the world dies with the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes, and the heart but one; yet the light of a whole life dies when love is done. Kit Snicket Lemony Snicket, The End In our world of darkness, we need to turn to Mary, who gave us Jesus, the light of the world. In our culture of death, we need to turn to Mary, the first disciple to hear and proclaim the gospel of life. In our secularist society, we need to turn back to God. Mary, the mother of God, and our mother, will show us the way and lead us back to her son, our Lord. The nation, the world, who forgets the mother, is in danger of forgetting the Son, in danger of losing our way back to God. Kenneth Steiner, Rosary Bowl (2010) T We have to strengthen the faith of the people, anchor them in this country, encourage them to be witnesses of Christ, the salt of the earth and light of the world: we cannot allow our presence here to become insignificant. We have lived through a particularly painful period of history: we are living in extraordinary circumstances. Now we need to deal with them appropriately. Joseph Tobji, Syria: The bleeding wound of emigration (30 April 2019) Y Once a woman stopped between images of the Blessed Buddha and Maitreya, not knowing to Whom to offer her reverence. And the image of the Blessed Buddha uttered these words 'According to My Covenant, revere the future. Standing in defense of the past, direct your gaze toward the dawn' Remember how We labor for the future, and direct all your being into the future! In rays of knowledge We bring a Teaching strange to the world, for the light of the world is covered by darkness. (95) Agni Yoga, New Era Community (1926) Full text online Bible I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Jesus in the Gospel of John 8:12 NIV. As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. Gospel of John 9:1-7 NIV (See Healing the man blind from birth). You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 5:14-16 NIV. FilmsElwood Blues: You may go if you wish. But remember this: walk away now and you walk away from your crafts, your skills, your vocations; leaving the next generation with nothing but recycled, digitally-sampled techno-grooves, quasi-synth rhythms, pseudo-songs of violence-laden gangsta-rap, acid pop, and simpering, saccharine, soulless slush. Depart now and you forever separate yourselves from the vital American legacies of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, Memphis Slim, Blind Boy Fuller, Louis Jordan, Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson I and II, Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Elvis Presley, Leiber and Stoller, and Robert K. Weiss.Donald "Duck" Dunn: Who is Robert K. Weiss?Elwood Blues': Turn your backs now and you snuff out the fragile candles of blues, R&B and soul, and when those flames flicker and expire, the light of the world is extinguished because the music which has moved mankind through seven decades leading to the millennium will wither and die on the vine of abandonment and neglect. Blues Brothers 2000 (Herb) You are the light of the world! You are the light of the world. But a light under a bushel has lost something kind of crucial You've gotta stay bright to be the light of the world! (Herb) You are the city of god! You are the city of god! But a city on a hill is kinda of hard to hide it well! (Herb) You are salt of the earth. You are the salt of the earth. But a salt that's lost its flavor ain't got much in its favor! (All) Let you light so shine before men. Let your light so shine. So that they might know some kindness again. We all need help to feel fine. (Judas) Let's have some wine! Gospell, Light of the World Norton: [takes the Bible from Andy's hands during a cell inspection] I'm pleased to see you reading this. Any favorite passages? Andy: "Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh." Norton: Mark 13:35. Always liked that one. But I prefer, "I'm the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life." Andy: John, chapter 8, verse 12. … Norton: [hands the Bible back to Andy] I almost forgot. I'd hate to deprive you of this. Salvation lies within! The Shawshank Redemption James: [pointing to his large spotlight] This is the Light of the World. Jeremy: [before plunging into a ditch] Follow me! [a few seconds later he gets stuck] Don't follow me! James: [on being in the Nativity Play as a child] I was a shepherd because I had a dressing gown. James: [comes out of the hospital with a bandage on his head and stops in his tracks] What are you two wearing? [Richard and Jeremy stand in front of James wearing burkas and sunglasses] Jeremy: [voiceover] The Fiat's tyre had changed its mind about having air in it. Richard: BUGGER! Top Gear: Nativity Special (December 26th, 2010) [16.0] See also Light of God External links Light of the world Category:Sayings of Jesus Category:Christian theology