In Matt. 5:14, Jesus tells His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” But in John 9:5, He said, “I am the light of the world.” Are disciples or is Jesus the light of this world?

– Manoj, India

DR. GEORGY’S RESPONSE:

In John 9:5, Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world,I am the light of the world.” Jesus is the primary light, and His disciples are the secondary light. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, Jesus’ disciples reflect the light of Jesus onto the world. Since now Jesus is no longer in this world physically, His disciples are His reflected light in this world. So both statements are true at the time when Jesus said it, and even now.