“The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light… Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come into the light… Whoever does what is true comes to the light.” John 3:19, 20, 21
Why does Jesus speak about “the light” five times in verses 19-21?
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. He is a very successful person with an empty soul. He is drawn to Jesus and he has questions. So he says, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God.”
Jesus jumps right in: “Nicodemus, you must be born again! You need a new birth in which your life is cleansed and your heart is changed.”
“How am I supposed to do that? How am I supposed to change what my heart loves?”
“Nicodemus, believe in me! The Son of Man is going to be lifted up, and here’s why: God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have eternal life” (3:16).
“Nicodemus, you come to me with your questions, but look at you—scurrying around in the darkness, worrying about what people will think because you are talking to me. You need to stop that and come out into the open. Come to the light.”
Nicodemus left that night knowing: Jesus told me he can change my heart and wash my life. He called me to believe in him. I need to make a decision. Either I must do what he says, and that means coming out in the open as a committed follower, or I remain where I am, a successful man with an empty soul and many questions. What am I going to do?
Are you ready to come into the light?