Loving the Light
—John 3:18-21
In this lesson we consider the words of our Lord Jesus in John 3:18-21. These verses record the last part of what Jesus said to Nicodemus. Jesus spoke about himself as the light of the world and how he exposes and makes manifest the hidden deeds of man.
First observe the bones of what Jesus teaches Nicodemus in these verses...
- Believe the Light,
- Obey the Light,
- Know the Light,
- Love the Light,
- Come to the Light.
Now let us examine these four verses to see what Jesus says to Nicodemus and us...
1 The Light of Life
John 3:18
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18 NKJV).
Here Jesus says that they are condemned who do not have faith (belief) in Jesus the Son of God and in his name. That name "is above every name" (Philippians 2:9-11).
In verse 18 there are two "nots" which express the two opposite states of the soul. The question is, in which state is your soul? The two states are...
- (1) "is NOT condemned",
- (2) "has NOT believed".
Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life" (John 8:12 NKJV).
We follow Jesus in faith, and he shines his goodness, truth, and power all about us so we are neither in spiritual darkness nor are we condemned.
2 The Light of the World
John 3:19
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 (John 3:19 NKJV).
Here Jesus speaks about the world's greatest problem.
- The problem: Being condemned for evil deeds and loving the darkness that hides evil,
- The solution: Loving light (goodness, truth, etc) rather than darkness,
- The Saviour: Jesus the Light who came into the world who was rejected by many and was crucified for all (John 1:5,9-14).
When verse 19 says that men loved darkness RATHER than light, it shows they were exercising a choice. When the Light of Life shone upon them, they decided which they would RATHER love: the darkness or the light.
3 The Light Exposes Evil
John 3:20
For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (John 3:20 NKJV).
Light exposes what darkness hides. Most of the evil that people do is covered up, hidden in the dark, whether that "dark" be literal or figurative. Those who practise evil keep away from the light and its exposure but sooner or later it will shine on them and reveal their wrongdoings.
Wise persons welcome the Light to dispel any darkness in them. Their attitude is as follows...
- “The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out” (Proverbs 13:9).
- “For it is you, my God, who lights my lamp; the LORD lights up my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28).
- “You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.” (2Samuel 22:29).
- “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
4 The Light Exposes Godliness
John 3:21
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 3:21 NKJV).
The same Light that exposes evil also exposes righteousness and its deeds. In verse 21 Jesus speaks of doing truth. It's not enough to believe it. We have to practise it as well.
The good that someone does may not be manifest; it may go unnoticed by others. But when the doer of truth comes to the Light, the righteousness done is made manifest, especially to God, without the doer making any boast.