The Life and Ministry of Jesus
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:19–21
Light and darkness. This is one of the major images used in this Gospel. Why will sinners not come into the “light of life”? Because they love the darkness! They want to persist in their evil deeds, and this keeps them from coming to the light; for the closer the sinner gets to the light, the more his sins are exposed. It is not “intellectual problems” that keep people from trusting Christ; it is the moral and spiritual blindness that keeps them loving the darkness and hating the light. Please note that Nicodemus finally did “come to the light.” He was in the “midnight of confusion,” but eventually he came out into the “sunlight of confession” when he identified with Christ at Calvary. He realized that the uplifted Savior was indeed the Son of God. 1
Personal Encouragement
Unconfessed sin is never hidden before God. Are you living in the shadows of sin? Do you think that slight compromise is not really sin? Be careful. It is better to repent now.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
You can’t walk in the light of the truth if you live in the darkness of sin.
A Prayer
Lord, may Your light keep burning bright and keep me from the shadows of sin.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
