April 10 - Light Has Come Into the World

April 10 – Light Has Come Into the World

 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:9-21)

Jesus shows His frustration with Nicodemus who should be a spiritual leader for Israel, yet can’t understand what Jesus is teaching.

One of the things the Pharisees and Sadducees were famous for was holding to the letter of the Law.  They argued with Jesus constantly over the little things – and even some of the big things.  But if you look closely at the things they argued with Jesus about, they generally had more to do with keeping an eye on everyone’s behavior than with expressing the love and grace of God.

They were so focused on the negative aspects of the Law that they had forgotten the joy and peace that God offered to His people.

God didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world.

It occurs to me that God probably didn’t need anyone else to condemn the world – the religious types were doing that for Him.  They reminded Him every moment of the day about the people’s sin. 

Focus on sin remains a part of our religious life today.  It is easier to focus on sins – be they big or little – than to simply love others and tell about how Jesus wants to offer them eternal life.  Preachers and politicians have made a lot of money and gotten a lot of attention by focusing on the sin of the world … the darkness.

We have the light of the world living within our hearts and yet we spend so much time looking at the darkness, we forget to allow that light to shine.

In Galatians 5:22, Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  These behaviors are what shine that light on the world.  We don’t see judgment, condemnation, harassment, or anything like that in light.