Come to the Light!
John 3:11-21
Introduction: Thinking of the theme of “light and darkness,” I remembered a night about 20 years ago, when I was teaching an evening class at the Baptist Seminary in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The class was proceeding normally, when suddenly, the lights went out, we were plunged into darkness. The power grid was not always reliable, and brief outages sometimes happened. For a couple of minutes, I tried to continue lecturing in the dark, but that was not going to work, it was difficult enough for the students to understand my “Americanized” Portuguese with the lights on and PowerPoint illustrating the lecture! I had some papers to return to the students, and several of them had cell phones, so with the light of their phones they came forward and got their papers. Then we dismissed the class. As I left the school and began the drive home, I was surprised as I drove, mile after mile, the city of over 15 million people was in darkness. Traffic lights were not functioning, but I made it back home without incident. Our condo had backup generators that ran through the night lighting the common areas. Only the next day did I learn that there was a major black out that impacted the entire southern part of the country. The crime in the city is always a problem, and it continued that night, under the cover of darkness. People loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. The calling of missionaries, and of all Christians, is to point those who are stumbling in darkness to Jesus, the Light of the world.
The Big Idea: Jesus is the true Light that shines on everyone, exposing unbelief, and bringing light and life to those who believe. We’ll look today at 1) The Problem: Sinful humans, in darkness, unable to see (11-12); 2) The Promise: Salvation, eternal life, for all who trust in the Son (13-18); and 3) The Penalty of unbelief: Self-incurred condemnation, judgement for those who continue in the darkness (19-21).
I. The Problem: Sinful Humans, stumbling in darkness, blind to truth, cannot see (11-12).
11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
I am overlapping again with where we left off last week, since there are several details that time didn’t permit us to consider. The main point is clear enough, we need spiritual life to understand spiritual things (v.11,12; cf. I Cor 2:14). Jesus again uses the phrase, “truly, truly I say to you.” He is underscoring the absolute truth and importance of what he is about to say. He uses the legal language we have seen in John, “witness” and “testimony.” His works and words bear witness to the truth of who He is: the fulfillment of the hope of the ages. But he says, “you do not receive” it. Remember that Nicodemus came saying “we know that you are a teacher sent by God.” He came representing not only himself, but at least a segment of the leaders of the Jews. Here Jesus is using the plural verb to say, “you [“y’all,” or as we say in NJ, “yous guys”] do not receive it.” reflects the idea from the prologue, “He came to his own, and His own people did not receive him” (1:11). Jesus says that he has spoken the plain truth, if Nicodemus didn’t hear it further explanation wouldn’t help. His problem was not lack of knowledge, he simply didn’t have “ears to hear” the truth.
Jesus says in 3:12, “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” What are the “earthly things” that Jesus has been telling Nicodemus? I think he must mean the new birth, being born again, born from above. It is what humans need to experience to enter into life. It is earthly in that it is what must happen now, in this fallen world. “Heavenly things” are something beyond that, maybe referring to the “not yet” aspects of Kingdom Living, the future God has in store for those who are His.
By the way, Nicodemus is not specifically mentioned again in this context after v.9. The dialog is now teaching. But Nick was not a “hopeless lost cause,” and we’ll get some hints later in the Gospel that the one who came at night, comes to the Light. He appears a couple of more times in John’s Gospel. In 7:50-51, as the people are considering who Jesus might be, the rulers have as a whole hardened their hearts and made up their minds – he urges them to give Jesus a hearing and gets rebuked for it. Again in 19:39 we find him going with Joseph of Arimathea to take down the body of Jesus, wrap it in rags and spices as was their custom, and to lay it in a tomb. Nicodemus is not called a disciple in John, but his actions indicate that he is at least sympathetic to Jesus. But Nicodemus is still in the dark. He does not yet see that *Jesus is the true Light that shines on all, exposing unbelief, and bringing life to those who believe.
II. The Promise: Salvation! Eternal life for all who Trust in the Son (3:13-18)! Let’s read first the words of Jesus in 3:13-15…
13 No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
Most Bibles with “red letters” indicate Jesus’ speech continues at least through v.15 and I agree, based on the use of the title “Son of Man.” Every time this is used in the Gospels, it is spoken by Jesus. Who is this “Son of Man”? (3:13,14). Using this term, in the third person as he does, allows Jesus to use a messianic title while continuing to be a little ambiguous. Daniel 7:13-14 is the background:
13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
A messianic figure, coming on the clouds of heaven, given dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom! When Jesus used this title for himself, it was always in this way, speaking in the third person. Only those with ears to hear, eyes to see, a heart to understand could receive it. Even his disciples didn’t put it all together until after the resurrection, and even then they had questions about the Kingdom (Acts 1:5). This was an example of what was stated at the end of chapter 2, “[He] did not entrust himself to them, because He knew all men…”
Jesus next points to an illustration from the Old Testament, the "Snake in the Wilderness," and draws an analogy with the lifting up of the Son (3:15; cf Num 21:9).
And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." 6 So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness… As the serpent was physically lifted up and placed on a pole, so Jesus would be lifted up and hung on a Roman cross. There was no visible connection between the poisonous snakes in the camp, and the bronze snake on the pole, but the requirement for healing was a look at the snake on the pole. That required faith, an expression of trust that God had provided a way, and His way was the only way to life. It reminds us of our need, of the wages of sin, of God’s gracious provision for us in Christ. Yet there is even more to what Jesus is saying. The word translated “lifted up” can also mean “exalted.” And as we so often see in John, he intends a double meaning. The word appears a couple of more times in John, including in Chapter 12, where he also ties it together with “light and darkness”…
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" 35 So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." (John 12:32-36).
In the outline I called 3:16-18, “the Gospel in a nutshell.” That has also been used to describe John 3:16 on its own. It was this verse as I read it in a Gideon Bible in a hotel room that helped me see that the way I had been following was not the Way to life. Here we get a short exposition of the Way: true life through faith in the Son (3:16-18).
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
It is sometimes difficult to tell in John where Jesus’ words end, and the gospel writer’s begin. Jesus will often use “Son of Man” to designate himself (3:14,15) and the transition here seems to be more from John’s perspective, after the cross and resurrection. In the end it doesn’t really matter right? The red letters are a decision made by the editors of some Bibles, but it is not only the red letters that are the Words of Christ! When Paul said in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” I think he was referring to Scripture, ultimately, the whole Bible is from Him and about Him! John 3:16 beautifully points to the One who is the Way to life…
“For God so loved the world…” This is the expression of the kind of love God has for humans created in His image, He so loved us that he didn’t abandon us or leave us to the consequences of our sin, stumbling in the darkness. Rather, he acted…
“…that He gave his only begotten Son…” John, in his first letter, explains the love demonstrated in sending the Son in 1 John 4:9-10,
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Paul says much the same thing in Romans 5:8… “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In our text, “God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son…”
“…that whoever believes in Him…” The only requirement is faith, believing in the Son, that is, recognizing correctly who he is, Son of Man and Son of God, the Word incarnate, and trusting that He accomplished what he came to do, dying for us on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, and rising victoriously on the third day. The price has been paid, so as we read in John 1:12-13,
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Yes Nicodemus, you must be born again. And those who believe, “…shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Big Idea in our context is that, *Jesus is the true Light that shines on everyone, exposing unbelief, and bringing life to those who believe.
III. The Penalty of Unbelief: Self-incurred condemnation for those who continue in darkness (3:19-21). In this gospel, Jesus is the light (1:9; 8:12; 9:5).
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.
3:19 begins with the phrase, “And this is the judgment,” some translations say, “this is the verdict…” That fits well with the language Jesus used in this context of “testimony” and “witness.” But notice Jesus is not on trial, humanity is. How will people respond to the Light? We were introduced to the idea of “Light” coming into the world back in the Prologue, in John 1. The creative Word, who is with God and who is God is being spoken of,
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… (John 1:4-5).
Remember in 1:5 it says the darkness has not “overcome” it, some translations say the the darkness has not “understood” it. The NET Bible chose to translate “the darkness has not mastered it.” They chose that English word since it could refer to an athlete “mastering” his opponent (i.e., “defeat, overcome) or a student “mastering” his lesson, (i.e. learning it well, understanding thoroughly). 3:19 expresses the idea from a slightly different perspective: “…the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.” People, fallen humans, tend to choose darkness. Coming to the Light means being exposed, having the truth uncovered. It means admitting we are sinners deserving judgment. And so, the light comes on, they put on their blindfold and hang a “do not disturb sign” on the door. I’ve made up my mind, don’t confuse me with the facts! Rather than bowing to the God who is, their idolatrous hearts construct their own idea of God, and their own standard of truth. There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end there of is the way of death.
We don’t want to leave out the contrast in 3:20-21…
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.
Later, Jesus will say in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." That points us to the Big Idea…
What is God saying to me in this passage? Jesus is the true Light that shines on everyone, exposing unbelief, and bringing life and light to those who believe.
What would God have me to do in response to this passage?
1) This passage talks about the God who so loved us… John says in his first letter, in I John 3:1, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” How then, should we live? What do you love? Philadelphia loves the Eagles, the parade showed that, such joy and adoration! Do we love God with our whole heart? John says in 1 John 4:10, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
2) This passage contains a warning, but also an invitation. Light has come into the darkness of this fallen world, but “…men love darkness rather than light…” That hasn’t changed. But the good news is that Jesus is still building His church… Some will come to the Light, some will believe. Let’s allow the Light of Christ to shine in us and through us. To God be the glory. AMEN.
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