Rejecting Light

 

John 3:16 “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. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

We have already seen John's introduction of major themes in his gospel, including light.  The Light has come into the world, but he was not received.  Here John develops that further. The first verse above is probably the best-known verse there is, at least in the western church, but like with any passage, we often fail to continue on to the middle of verse 18:  but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. People don't want to change; they don't want light; they often want to remain in darkness; they remain under judgment.  It is comfortable, somewhat pleasurable, and ensnaring. But the Light is still shining, extending the call to come and find truth and life.