Bible Passage: John 3:16-21

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16 is perhaps the most well known Bible verse. And with good reason too. It’s a succinct summary of the gospel message.

But of course, like most of the Bible, it’s better read in context, and to understand it within the overarching narrative. In this case, a Pharisee called Nicodemus has come to Jesus in the night, presumably so he is not seen, and questioned Jesus on the meaning of his actions and his power. This is where we find Jesus’s teaching on the importance of being born again. Our passage begins just as Jesus has talked about how he must be lifted up on the cross, and that those who look to him and believe in him might have eternal life. Next comes John 3:16.

Because John 3.16 is so easy to remember, we often stop there. But there’s more. In the next verse Jesus continues, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” It’s probably fair to say that as Christians, we’re often far better at remembering the verse before, and not so good at refraining from condemnation. But Jesus is clear, the good news is that he came not to condemn, but to bring life.

Often during the Easter season we sing, “No condemnation now I dread, Jesus and all in him is mine.” Or perhaps this brings to mind Paul’s words in Romans 8:1, “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This is the promise of the gospel, the good news that is made a reality by Jesus. Jesus’s words in John 10:10 are a natural continuation of this good news, “the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I have come that you might have life, and life to the full.” Condemnation has no place in living life to the full.

But the passage doesn’t end there either. Oddly, in the next verse there is talk of condemnation. Condemnation apparently for those who do not believe in the one God sent. And because they don’t believe they are unwilling to step into the light and to be cleansed and made whole. What is going on here?

In our house we have a small box that plugs into the mains, and every week or so I put my phone inside it and hit the button. For a couple of minutes my phone is bathed with UV light, which passes over it again and again. Why? Because the UV light kills the bacteria that builds up on my phone over the course of the week. That bacteria can be damaging to me, or anyone who uses my phone, and so it makes sense to use this UV light regularly to clean it. However, it goes without saying that this neat piece of technology would make no difference unless I was put my phone in there. I can press the button all I want, but the phone has to be in the light for it to work.

There is a similar thing going on in this passage. When we are not willing to step into the light, naturally we remain in darkness. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, “the line separating good and evil cuts through the heart of every man.” So it is with us. Evil, sin, moral failing, however we describe it, naturally keeps us in darkness. And if we are going to be made whole then we need someone to bring light, to bring life, to bring healing, cleansing.

So how do we step into that light? Believing in Christ means we can be cleansed and made whole; only by being willing to put ourselves in his hands do we see his power in our own lives.

Jesus says later on in John, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” The light is not to be feared. And when we step into that light, we don’t find condemnation, we find a Father running to embrace us with open arms, and that is profoundly good news.