Y |
E are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 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. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Some of my readers may find my obsession with lights and candles to be a bit much, but the great symbolism of light when it comes to the Gospel and its Author are beyond question. The Gospel is the Word of God, and the Word of God is Christ, and Christ is the Light of the World.
The caravans of old (and some today) that crossed the desert sands of Asia and northern Africa bearing exotic goods from afar were preceded by a light bearer who lighted the way for their travel. If the Light-Bearer became remiss in keeping his lamp brightly shining, those who followed would call out to him, ‘Let your light shine!’ Just as John was the Light-Bearer to prepare the way of the Lord until His Coming, so are we to be His light-bearer to point the way for His Second Coming. Yes, John the Baptist was a burning Light, but his light was temporary in this world. The Torch-Bearer was consumed in his burning, but the Light of Christ is self-generating and eternal.
There is symbolic purpose for the candles on our Lord’s Table. Just as Jesus often referred to common devices in parables to teach truth, so do our candles serve as parables to make the worshipper understand better the reverence and dignity that is appropriate to the worship of God. Facing the Lord’s Table – not an altar since Jesus has made the once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins – we observe a candle to the right and to the left of the center of the Table. The candle on the left (right side facing out) represents the Light of the Gospel of Christ going forth. The candle on the right (left facing out) represents the reflected Light of Christ of the Apostles, and you and me, going forth. John was the signal light to point to the coming Christ but when Christ came, that light was no longer needed. Now that Christ has ascended to the Father, He has appropriated us to be the Light to point to the Way, the Truth , and the Life until His Second Coming. (see Matthew 5:14)
Candles are especially prominently mentioned throughout Holy Scripture. In the Book of Job, the candle is compared with the spiritual life of the believer. That of the wicked shall be put out.5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. 6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. (Job 18:5-6) Of course, the candles of the Tabernacle of God are never extinguished.
The spiritual life of the Church is compared to candles by Christ Himself. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Rev 1:20) A devoted Christian minister once accused me of being a Roman Catholic since I had a cross on the ‘Altar’ and candles. I informed him that we had no ‘altar’ but a Lord’s Table since we did not perform sacrifices there. I explained that his church displayed a cross at the very peak of its building. Why not have a cross on the Lord’s Table? The cross is empty in Reformed churches since Christ is no longer on the cross. And we have candles on the Lord’s Table to represent our Church and Faith. I then closed the argument with the fact that churches who have forsaken their First Love will have their candles removed. . . . I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev 2:5) I was happy to inform my friend that the Anglican Orthodox Church STILL has her candles! 😊
I conclude with a quote from the great minister of England – Charles Spurgeon:
Light Shining. — 'Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. A light- house sounds no drum, it beats no gong, and yet far over the waters its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by all your conduct.
The candle seems to me to be compared to the Word of God, and the fire of the candle is the power of the Holy Spirit rendering the Word in clear and visible distinction. Though the presence of candles is in no way essential to worship, they nonetheless add a certain sense of sanctity thereto.
