Afraid of the light
A nighttime visitor seeing the light
About two years ago, we wrote an article about Nicodemus, a late-night visitor who came to Jesus to enquire about His mission (See Jesus' late-night visitor, Nicodemus.). This week we address the same scripture, but with a slightly different take.
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, 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. – John 3:1-2
We are introduced to Nicodemus, a well-educated man, and who would later play an important role in Jesus’ burial (John 19:39). He visits Jesus at night. I remember watching a film about the life of Jesus and this scene is beautifully portrayed. We see Jesus waiting patiently in a dark and secluded area. Nicodemus arrives and Jesus ensures that he feels welcome, despite the growing tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. The discussion that follows is pivotal in the Bible as it outlines God’s plan of salvation for all of mankind.
Why would Nicodemus visit Jesus at night? There could be many reasons – Nicodemus’ work as a Jewish leader could have meant that his day was occupied; he may have had to wait until his family had been taken care of first; or he may have feared being seen in public with what was already a divisive figure. Nevertheless, out of the Jewish teaching of the law comes something so beautiful that it has the power to change the lives of everyone alive today. Yet many are scared to make a move, like Nicodemus, and find out the truth. By the time this event had taken place, Jesus would have been well-known. As teachers of the Old Testament and the law, his audience would have been upset upset by His radical new teaching.
Jesus cleverly side-steps the direction Nicodemus wants the discussion to move into. He pours cold water on the traditional teaching that salvation comes through works. To see the kingdom of God, a person has to be reborn and get a new life. Just after John 3:16, Jesus explains His mission, and this is where so many people get stuck. Remember, before we critisise the unsaved, consider that you and I were once in the same position (Ephesians 2:1-10). We were also condemned because we did not believe (John 3:18). Why did we not believe? Because we loved the darkness more than the light (John 3:19). We did not want the light to expose our works, which, even if we thought we lived moral lives before our conversion, were evil as they did not accommodate a Saviour. Fortunately, we realised our mistake and repented of it, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I used to work in country where the darkness is overwhelming. A false religion is promoted as the only way, and the laws of the country make it illegal to spread the true gospel of salvation to so many who desperately need to see the light. It is sad to see how the lives of supposedly good people are ruled by a religious system that offers them no salvation, no life, and no hope. Yet the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ is the blessed hope (Titus 2:13) that we have, and which we should share with the world wherever and whenever we can.
In my time working there, I heard the adherents of their religion talk of how they hoped that they would get to heaven, and along with this, the “promise” of lustful bliss. Of course, this was just for the men, and it always appeared to me as if there was even less hope for the other gender. The problem with this “hope” is that it assumes that they will be blessed with a presence in heaven, based only on what they had achieved on Earth, not because of God’s provision of the Way, Truth, and Light (John 14:6). Islam's promise of going to paradise is based on whether God thinks you did well enough to earn your spot in heaven. They depend on works to save them. It is a futile hope.
We do not know what the immediate outcome of Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus was. We are not told that he submitted his life to Jesus Christ and became born again. However, we do see his progression towards acceptance of the mission this extraordinary man had. Nicodemus’ name appears only five times in John’s gospel:
- John 3:1 – He is introduced as a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews;
- John 3:4 – He starts his argument about the rebirth;
- John 3:9 – He further questions what he has been told, but is starting to consider it;
- John 7:50 – He challenges his colleagues, and the Law (See Proverbs 18:13); and
- John 19:39 – He contributes towards the burial and clearly has had a change of heart.
Why is it so difficult for the world to see the Light and accept the message of salvation? How is it possible that a person can believe a lie and is prepared to die, knowing they are going to eternal damnation? The answer is found right in this chapter:
19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. – John 3:19
They do not love the light but prefer the darkness to hide their evil deeds. The sad thing is that the unsaved now, as you and I were in the past, do not realise that God does not want to condemn them to eternal damnation, but wants to save them instead (John 3:17). He does not care about their evil deeds and what they have done, but wants to seee them saved and reborn. Paul later captures God’s plan in a beautiful way:
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:6-8
When we were unable to save ourselves, Christ already died so that we can live. Maybe some people argue that you would be prepared to die for someone who is good. Yet, while the world is still in their sin, God has already made provision for their salvation. A caring mother prepares a meal for her family members, irrespective of where they are now or what they are doing. She prepares a meal for them, anyway, and eagerly waits for them. The question is whether they will return home to enjoy the meal in the light and comfort of their home or stay out and go hungry and cold in the darkness.
Conclusion
God has already made the way. He has already prepared the meal. It is up to you to come out of the cold and dark, and enter the marvellous light:
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. – 1 Peter 2:9
You have a choice today to get out of your miserable situation. You will not be condemned for doing so (John 3:17) but will be saved instead. Do not miss the opportunity.