A Johaninne Study (John 3:19-21)

^3:19 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.”

Many Bibles distinguish Jesus’ sayings from others by highlighting his words in red. There are passages, however, where it is difficult to distinguish between Jesus’ actual words and the author’s narration. For example, at the beginning of the third chapter of John, Jesus is clearly in dialogue with Nicodemus. After a discussion about regeneration, documented in verses two to fifteen, there is a shift in the text. It begins with the famous saying, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” Everything up to verse sixteen has been somewhat cryptic about Jesus’ ultimate goal of dying on the cross. Verses sixteen and onward, however, Jesus apparently makes his purposes explicit. Are these words actually from the mouth of Jesus or is it the narrative of the author of this gospel?

Some scholars hypothesize that this is actually John, the author, who is speaking here. And there is a distinct possibility that they are right because of what is written in verse nineteen: “the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” The language used here is suspiciously similar to those in John 1:9, “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” Regardless of one’s view of authorship, it is clear that we can learn from juxtaposing these passages together. Perhaps it will be fruitful to read John 1:9 in context:

⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 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.

Both passages begin with the understanding that a light has come into the world. Both passages continue to explain that people respond to this light in different ways. Those who love darkness over the light do evil, hate light and do not know the light. On the other hand, there are those who love the light. These people do good and receive the light.

Jesus, or John, is telling us the very simple truth that what we do indicates what we love. If our actions are predominantly self-oriented, or our hearts are constantly seeking idols, we are wicked. On the other hand, if we do good, then we love the light. There is a clear line between those who do good and those who do evil. There is no middle ground here.

Why make this distinction? D.A. Carson explains:

The purpose of these three verses, then, is not to encourage readers to think they fall into a deterministic category bound up with their intrinsic nature, but to make them see the imminence of their danger (the verdict is being declared), and the fundamentally moral reasons why people hate the light. John stresses these points in the hope that his readers will beseech God that all they do may be done through him.

Perhaps, in light of these passages, we all are being exposed to the dichotomy of light and darkness for a reason. Understanding the darkness and reality of evil is not meant to entrench us further in darkness, but to call us out into the light. So, be encouraged Christian, for God is revealing the light to you right now through the words written here. He is the light of the world and darkness has not overcome it.

A Johaninne Study (John 3:16-18)

^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.

There are two ancient heresies that continue to plague Christian circles today: inclusivism and universalism. Inclusivism is, “the idea that salvation only comes through Jesus’ work but that it is not necessary to hear the gospel in order to be saved.” A universalist is, “someone who believes that every human being whom God has created or will create will finally come to enjoy the everlasting salvation into which Christians enter here and now.” Both proponents of these views appeal to John 3:16 as justification for their perspectives. The argument goes like this: God is a God of love, so how could he condemn anyone to hell? But both these views presuppose that God’s love is incompatible with just condemnation; nor do they take into account the following verses.

Despite the distortions of inclusivism and universalism, the message is unmistakable: Jesus came to save whoever believes in him.

God is a God of justice. His justice is manifested against those who do not believe in him. In other words, those who reject him will receive the wrath of God. Scary? Sure is. Is it fair? Take an employee that violates his contract by not completing his or her work. Maybe its a painter that has not finished painting. The employer has been cheated of a fully painted house. Justice belongs to him. Similarly, God deserves worship, but he is cheated of it. Justice belongs to him. Condemnation is fair punishment, as terrifying as it is.

God is also a God of love. His love is manifested in sending his Son. Who would give up their child for a criminal? God did. And we are the criminals, convicted of rejecting the one who deserves to be worshipped. But despite our rejection of him, by grace he gives faith to the elect. These are people that believe in him and are not condemned.

God is both a God of love and a God of justice. The unfortunate truth is that not everyone will be saved. But it is equally true that no one deserves to be saved. This is why the fact that there is salvation at all is so amazing. And that, my friends, should lead us to repentance and worship.

A Johaninne Study (John 3:11-15)

^3:11 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? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he 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.

In this passage, we learn two things about Jesus: 1. Who he is; and 2. What he is about to do.

Jesus makes a bold claim about where he comes from: “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” When we travel, many of us get homesick. Why is that? Because we are deeply associated with our point of origin. As the saying goes, “home is where the heart is.” Home, however, is more than a sentimental heart attachment. Where you are from, also, determines who you are.

Typically, though not always, home is where a person grew up. It is the place their family raised them. Likely, it was also the place where they were educated. More often, it is the place where their most intimate relationships have formed. Regardless of where your home is, it is the place where personal identity is significantly developed. Your home is where your worldview is most influenced.

When Jesus says that his home is in heaven, he is not only identifying himself with that place, he is also identifying himself with the one who resides there - God. Heaven is the dwelling place of God. Creaturely beings, whether heavenly or earthly, can only reside there with his permission. So when Jesus makes the statement, “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man,” he is boldly claiming that he belongs there. The implication is that it is his dwelling place. In effect, he is claiming to be God.

Jesus also foreshadows what he about to do. In verse fourteen, he makes a reference to Numbers 21:6-9:

Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And 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. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

The Israelites sinned. But God was merciful. He used the bronze serpent to save his people from the fiery serpents. In this way, their sins were atoned for through the bronze serpent being raised up. Jesus would similarly be raised up; only he would be raised up on a cross. And instead of a serpent for a serpent, this was a life for a life. Much like how the serpent was used to save the Israelites, Jesus saves us from our sins.

Why would he do that? He answers this in Mark 3:15, “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

God of heaven on earth is truly a remarkable thing. More than that, this same God was also willing to die for us and our sins. Not only that, he invites us into God’s dwelling place so that we can have eternal life with him. This is not only remarkable, but amazingly gracious indeed!