Sermon: Embracing God’s Light

Sermon: Embracing God’s Light

Scripture Lesson: John 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He that believeth in Him is not condemned; but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation: that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (21st Century KJV)

John 3:16-21(The Message) “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

“This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

Introduction: We should embrace the light! Isaiah 60:1-3 calls the people of God to shine. Listen to this, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” The people of Jerusalem fail to recognize that Jesus of Nazareth was God’s Son, God’s Light and God’s offer of salvation. Nicodemus, hearing the teachings of Jesus, seeing the miracles performed, started to believe despite the opinion of other.

The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus is probably one of the best-known events in the gospel that appear in only one text. Many events covered by John only appear in His book. Almost in every case, Jesus must respond to questions posed by his adversaries. Nicodemus comes as a serious inquirer. Nicodemus begins by saying, “Now we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Is that true? Then “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?” Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?”

Trying to explain heavenly things to Nicodemus was challenging, but Jesus knew what was on his heart. Nicodemus wanted to know, “how can a man be right with God?” “Is man under judgment or condemnation?” So in John 3:16-21, Jesus clarifies God’s attitude and position towards man; clarifies the role of the light in the world; and gives the bottom line for condemnation. First, Jesus tells us how greatly God has loved us in giving us His only begotten Son. He teaches us that salvation is God’s free gift to be received only by believing in Jesus Christ. He says, that believing in God’s son offers the most wonderful and comprehensive blessing any person can ever hope for - eternal life.

Jesus informs Nicodemus that God has sent light into the world. The light shines for all people but this shining can lead to different outcomes, depending on how people respond to the light. The coming of the light brings vindication or judgement. As the light shines in the darkness, it has a dividing function. Jesus is the light of the world, and light has come into the world to expose our need for God. These verses do not give the world a pass on being judged. Jesus indicates to Nicodemus that most people will try to find darkness to hide away from God because they fear the light.