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.