Light Shinning in the darkness (John 3-19:21)

Scripture reading:
(19) This is the verdict – light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light, because there deeds were evil.

(20) Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds may be exposed. (21) But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.


Observations:
(1) “This is the verdict” (v19)

At first, this passage may appear to contradict what Jesus said in verse 17 (refer preceding study).

In that verse, Jesus specifically stated that his first coming was not intended as a means of judgment (it was intended as a means of calling those who believe in him to salvation). So why then is Jesus now using the term ‘verdict,’ a term commonly associated with judgments?

What does Jesus mean – this is the verdict?

The way I interpret it, Jesus is making a discernment based upon how men have responded to him to date.

Let’s consider the context of the passage. Jesus is now in Jerusalem. Up until this point, we have seen a variety of responses when people have been confronted with Jesus, the light of the world. (refer next point).

Some have responded positively, recognizing him as the messiah and savior. These included John the Baptist as well as the disciples.

Others, including many Jews in Jerusalem, have not, refusing to accept the authority of Jesus (refer John 2:12-25). In the preceding passage, Jesus refers to such people as being ‘condemned already,’ by virtue of their refusal to acknowledge him as god’s son and their savior.

I believe the ‘verdict’ is not, in my opinion a final judgment, but rather a discernment of Jesus based upon responses to him to date.


(2) “Light” (v19)

It is interesting to see the description which Jesus assigns to himself in this passage.

So far in the book of John, we have seen Jesus refer to himself as ‘the son of man” (v13) and implicitly, but not explicitly, as god’s son (v16,17). Now, in this passage, we see Jesus identify himself simply as ‘light,’ (v19).

So what does this description of ‘light’ say about the identity and character of Jesus? What does the term ‘light’ actually mean in this context. Let me give a few thoughts.


· The source of life.

In Science terms, the sun, the soul source of light on the earth, is the source of all life. Without the sun, no forms of life could exist.

In scriptural terms, Jesus is the light of the world. He is the author and giver of all life, and without him, no life can exist, physically or spiritually.

Jesus is life.


· Goodness.

Light is sometimes contrasted with darkness in a similar manner to the way that goodness is contrasted to badness. Light, is taken to mean ‘goodness’ in such contrasts, whereas ‘dark’ signifies badness.

Jesus is the light. Jesus is who is good. Indeed, Jesus is great beyond all possible comprehension.


· Transparency.

Darkness is a place where things can be kept in the shadows, where issues which people do not want to deal with can be hidden, where no one need see your dirty laundry.

Light, in contrast, is a place which is transparent. There is no place for hiding in the light – everything is on show. The pure holiness, righteousness, sinlessness of Christ was laid out in plain sight for everyone to see throughout his time on earth.

He kept nothing hidden. He was completely transparent.



(3) Come out into the light.

Honesty is the best policy – at least that’s what we are told, and it is a wise saying.

Yet personally, this is not always so easy to follow, and a tempting response to having done the wrong thing is to cover our own tracks any way that we can – hoping that no one finds out.

I think this tendency produces a barrier toward receiving salvation through Christ. In order to accept god’s peace offering on the cross, we first have to come to the point where we acknowledge that, at least some point in our lives, all of us have sinned against the lord.