LIGHTINTHEDARKNESS

Itseemsclearattheoutset,thattheGospelofJohnsetsabouttoestablishathemeofLightvsDarknessasheintroducesthereadertohisbestfriend–whojusthappenstobetheGodoftheuniverse.Yes,yes,Iknow.WeallaretrainedtosaythatJesusisourbestfriend.Thisideaiscelebratedeveninoursongs,suchasthelineintheoldhymn,“Hewillhearyouwhenyoucall,hewillhelpyouwhenyoufall.OthebestfriendtohaveisJesus.”

Andlovelyasthatsentimentmaybetous,thisisnotwhatwearetalkingaboutintheGospelofJohn.Hemeans“friend”inaveryliteralandpersonalway.Hisbestfriendwastherealpersonhewalkedandtalkedwithinaradical,physicalpresence,inrealtimeandactuallocations.Butthezingerinitallwasthatthisreal,physical,onlocation,inrealtimeperson,alsojusthappenedtobetheGodoftheUniverse.Wrapyourmindaroundthatone.

WearewellacquaintedwithJohn’sprologuetothegospel:

“InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod.HewaswithGodinthebeginning.Throughhimallthingsweremade;withouthimnothingwasmadethathasbeenmade.”1

Unfortunately,wetendatthispointtocutawayfromtheflowJohnisestablishingandskiptoverse14,whichtalksabouttheWordbeingmadeflesh–whichisfineifweareexploringtheeternalityoftheCreator–butsuchaskipinterruptsathemethatisbeingestablishedwhichiscrucialtowhatfollowsintheGospel,anemphasisonlightanddarkness.

“Inhimwaslife,andthatlifewasthelightofmen.Thelightshinesinthedarkness,butthedarknesshasnotunderstoodit.TherecameamanwhowassentfromGod;hisnamewasJohn.Hecameasawitnesstotestifyconcerningthatlight,sothatthroughhimallmenmightbelieve.Hehimselfwasnotthelight;hecameonlyasawitnesstothelight.Thetruelightthatgiveslighttoeverymanwascomingintotheworld.Hewasintheworld,andthoughtheworldwasmadethroughhim,theworlddidnotrecognizehim.Hecametothatwhichwashisown,buthisowndidnotreceivehim.Yettoallwhoreceivedhim,tothosewhobelievedinhisname,hegavetherighttobecomechildrenofGod.”2

Sosignificantisthislightanddarknesstheme,thatthegospelreferstoittwentyfourtimes,anditsetsupacontrastthathelpsusunderstandwhatcomesnext–intheproperlight–sotospeak.

ClearlytheGospelofJohnsetsabouttointroducethereadertoJesusanddeclarehimtobetheMessiah.ButasIlookedatthisproclamationinthefirstfewchapters–deliveredbyvariousindividualsandevents–Ibegantowonder,whendoesJesusfirstannounceandclaim

thattitlehimself.SoIsetaboutreadingtherecordofthoseearlydaysofhisministrysearchingforthatfirstcleardeclarationfromhisownlips,statingthatheactuallywastheMessiah.

ThefirsteventofthisintroductionintheGospel,isJesus’encounterwithJohntheBaptist:

“Johntestifiesconcerninghim.Hecriesout,saying,‘ThiswasheofwhomIsaid,Hewhocomesaftermehassurpassedmebecausehewasbeforeme.’Iamthevoiceofonecallinginthedesert,'MakestraightthewayfortheLord.'Ibaptizewithwater,butamongyoustandsoneyoudonotknow.Heistheonewhocomesafterme,thethongsofwhosesandalsIamnotworthytountie."3

“ThenextdayJohnsawJesuscomingtowardhimandsaid,‘Look,theLambofGod,whotakesawaythesinoftheworld!ThisistheoneImeantwhenIsaid,amanwhocomesaftermehassurpassedmebecausehewasbeforeme.’Imyselfdidnotknowhim,butthereasonIcamebaptizingwithwaterwasthathemightberevealedtoIsrael."4

“ThenJohngavethistestimony:IsawtheSpiritcomedownfromheavenasadoveandremainonhim.Iwouldnothaveknownhim,exceptthattheonewhosentmetobaptizewithwatertoldme,'ThemanonwhomyouseetheSpiritcomedownandremainishewhowillbaptizewiththeHolySpirit.'IhaveseenandItestifythatthisistheSonofGod."5

“ThenextdayJohnwasthereagainwithtwoofhisdisciples.WhenhesawJesuspassingby,hesaid,‘Look,theLambofGod!’"6

NowthatisclearenoughIwouldthink.Yetinallthis,JesusdoesnotmaketheclaimofMessiahship.ThesetwoformerdisciplesofJohn–nowdisciplesofJesusacceptedhimastheirnewleaderonthewordofJohntheBaptist.

“Andrew,SimonPeter'sbrother,wasoneofthetwowhoheardwhatJohnhadsaidandwhohadfollowedJesus.ThefirstthingAndrewdidwastofindhisbrotherSimonandtellhim,‘WehavefoundtheMessiah.’"7

NowwehavethreefollowerswhoarejoinedthenextdaybyPhilipandNathanielwhodeclares,“Rabbi,youaretheSonofGod;youaretheKingofIsrael."8Thatisallratherclearandpotentstuff.ButwestilldonothavethedirectclaimtoMessiahshipbyJesusthatwearelookingfor.

Itwouldseemthatthenextevent,inthemindofagoodpublicist,wouldbetheidealtimeforsuchanannouncement–atleastMary,hismotherseemedtothinkso.ItisthereportofthefirstrecordedmiracleofJesus,turningwaterintowine.Andlestyouthinkthiswasjustabottleortwo,dothecalculations.Itwas150gallonsoraboutonehalftonofwine.Butstillnoannouncement.

WiththePassovernearing,JesuswenttoJerusalemandfoundacorruptmarketextravaganzaragingoninthenameofreligionandworship.“Inthetemplecourtshefoundmensellingcattle,sheepanddoves,andotherssittingattablesexchangingmoney.Sohemadeawhipoutofcords,anddroveallfromthetemplearea,bothsheepandcattle;hescatteredthecoinsofthemoneychangersandoverturnedtheirtables.Tothosewhosolddoveshesaid,‘Gettheseoutofhere!HowdareyouturnmyFather'shouseintoamarket!’”9

Again,inthemindofahiredpublicist,thiswouldcertainlyseemtobeamomentofbroadrecognition,butstillnoannouncement:

“WhilehewasinJerusalematthePassoverFeast,manypeoplesawthemiraculoussignshewasdoingandbelievedinhisname.ButJesuswouldnotentrusthimselftothem,forheknewallmen.Hedidnotneedman'stestimonyaboutman,forheknewwhatwasinaman.”10

Next,inchapter3,comesthestoryofNicodemus,whichweareinclinedtoreadinanindulgentlight,giventhatintheendhedoescometoanointthedeadbodyofJesus.Butifwereadthestoryaccurately,itisnotcomplimentary.Andratherthanstartwithchapter3asweusuallydo,weneedtogobacktotherealintroductionofthestory.Itreadsthus:

“Jesuswouldnotentrusthimselftothem,forheknewallmen.Hedidnotneedman'stestimonyaboutman,forheknewwhatwasinaman.NowtherewasamanofthePhariseesnamedNicodemus,amemberoftheJewishrulingcouncil.”11

Whatistheimplicationhere?WhatisitthatJesusknowsaboutthisman?Andoneotherquestion–whydidthismancomeatnight?Isthisstoryfallingintothe“light/darkness”themesetupintheintroduction?

Butwait.Thereismore.Inthefollowingchapter,thereisawomanwhomeetsJesusatJacob’swellnearSycharatnoon,infullsunlight.Amanandawoman.Darknessandlight.Youmightsaythesestoriesareasdifferentasnightandday.Butlet’spursuethesedifferencesalittlefurther.NicodemuswasfamousasamemberoftheJewishrulingcouncil,anotedreligiousleader.Thewoman–whosenamewedonotknow–wasfamoustoo,ormaybeweshouldsayinfamous,livingwithamanwhowasnotherhusbandandhavinghadfivehusbandsbefore.Howisthatforcontrast.

Nicodemusspeaksfirstwithacomplementinthatconversation,butatthewell,Jesusopenstheconversationwitharequestforadrink,towhichthewomanreplieswitharatherrudeobservationaboutaJewishmanspeakingtoawomanhedoesnotknow,whoalsohappenstobeaSamaritan.Itisinterestingtonotehowquicklybothconversationsshift–thefirstfrompositivetonegativeandthesecondfromnegativetopositive.

JesustellsNicodemusthatthingsmustchangesaying,“Unlessamanisbornagain,hecannotseethekingdomofGod.”12Wequitegenerallyinterpretthisnewbirthexperienceinthecontextofourownpersonalsalvationandeternallife.ButIthinksomethingelseisgoingon

here.PerhapsJesusistellingthisreligiousleaderthatwithoutanewbirth,withoutanewwayofunderstandingthekingdomofGod,hecannotseeitwhenitisrightinfrontofhim.AnddespitecontainingoneofthemostfamoustextsinScripture–John3:16–thestoryendspoorly.

Nicodemus,ratherthanfacetheobviousmeaningofJesus’words,quibbleswithafoolishresponse.“Howcanamanbebornwhenheisold?Surelyhecannotenterasecondtimeintohismother’swombandbeborn!”13Obviously,Nicodemusdidnotbelievethat,nordidheassumethatJesusbelievediteither.Rather,hesoughttoavoidfacingthechangesrequiredforenteringthekingdomofGodthatwerebeingbroughtinbyJesus.Thesummaryofthisconversationbringsusbacktothelightanddarknessthemeagain.Imaginesneakingacrosstowninthedarkandthenhearingthesewords:

“Thisistheverdict:Lighthascomeintotheworld,butmenloveddarknessinsteadoflightbecausetheirdeedswereevil.Everyonewhodoesevilhatesthelight,andwillnotcomeintothelightforfearthathisdeedswillbeexposed.Butwhoeverlivesbythetruthcomesintothelight,sothatitmaybeseenplainlythatwhathehasdonehasbeendonethroughGod.”14

Meanwhile,backatthewell,thingsaregoingintheoppositedirection.PerceivingJesustobeaprophet,thewomansays,"IknowthatMessiahiscoming.Whenhecomes,hewillexplaineverythingtous."15Andfinallywefindwhatwehavebeenlookingfor,thedeclarationfromJesusownlips,"Iwhospeaktoyouamhe."16

ThewomanleavesthewaterpotatthewellandreturnstothetownsheleftonlyminutesearlierasthereputedsinnerofSychar.Butinthatamountoftime,shehasbeenchangedintotherankingevangelist.“ManyoftheSamaritansfromthattownbelievedinhimbecauseofthewoman'stestimony,‘HetoldmeeverythingIeverdid.’SowhentheSamaritanscametohim,theyurgedhimtostaywiththem,andhestayedtwodays.Andbecauseofhiswordsmanymorebecamebelievers.Theysaidtothewoman,‘Wenolongerbelievejustbecauseofwhatyousaid;nowwehaveheardforourselves,andweknowthatthismanreallyistheSavioroftheworld.’"17

Sothereyouhaveit.FollowingtheconversationwithNicodemus–nothing.Followingtheconversationatthewell,thefirstcongregationformsinSycharasJesusdeclareshisMessiahship.Perhapsthis–andoneotherdeclaration,theannouncementoftheresurrection,whichwewillcometoinaminute–arethemostimportantanddramaticannouncementsthatJesusmakesinhisentireministry.AnditistoawomanofthedespisedSamaritansthatheentruststhepreachingofthisgreatnews.

YetbackinJerusalem,theJewishrulingcouncilcontinuesintheirbenttoestablishandenforcetherulesofreligion.Thatiswhatauthoritarianreligiousinstitutionsarepronetodo.PerhapsitisovertherulesforSabbathobservancethattheyareshowntobeattheirmost

foolishextremes.ItwasatthepoolofBethesdawhereJesussawthetragicsightofhumanmisery.

“Hereagreatnumberofdisabledpeopleusedtolie—theblind,thelame,theparalyzed.Onewhowastherehadbeenaninvalidforthirty-eightyears.WhenJesussawhimlyingthereandlearnedthathehadbeeninthisconditionforalongtime,heaskedhim,‘Doyouwanttogetwell?’Theinvalidreplied,‘Ihavenoonetohelpmeintothepoolwhenthewaterisstirred.WhileIamtryingtogetin,someoneelsegoesdownaheadofme.’ThenJesussaidtohim,‘Getup!Pickupyourmatandwalk.’Atoncethemanwascured;hepickeduphismatandwalked.

“ThedayonwhichthistookplacewasaSabbath,andsotheJewssaidtothemanwhohadbeenhealed,‘ItistheSabbath;thelawforbidsyoutocarryyourmat.’Buthereplied,‘Themanwhomademewellsaidtome’,'Pickupyourmatandwalk.'Sotheyaskedhim,‘Whoisthisfellowwhotoldyoutopickitupandwalk?’Themanwhowashealedhadnoideawhoitwas,forJesushadslippedawayintothecrowdthatwasthere.”

“LaterJesusfoundhimatthetempleandsaidtohim,‘See,youarewellagain.Stopsinningorsomethingworsemayhappentoyou.’ThemanwentawayandtoldtheJewsthatitwasJesuswhohadmadehimwell.So,becauseJesuswasdoingthesethingsontheSabbath,theJewspersecutedhim.”18

Itisinstitutionalreligiousauthoritarianismrunamuck.WheredidtheycomeupwitharulethatsaysitisunlawfultohealontheSabbath.Theycouldn’tdoit,andneithercouldanyoneelse.Butthatwastheirrule,andtheyweredeterminedtoenforceit,nomatterhowfoolishitwas.Andagain,withthemanbornblind,wefindthesamebizarreaccusation.

“ThedayonwhichJesushadmadethemudandopenedtheman'seyeswasaSabbath.Therefore,thePhariseesalsoaskedhimhowhehadreceivedhissight.‘Heputmudonmyeyes,andIwashed,andnowIsee.’SomeofthePhariseessaid,‘ThismanisnotfromGod,forhedoesnotkeeptheSabbath.’”19

SeeingJesusasathreattotheircozylittlecontrolclub,theysetabouttodestroyhim.AnditwasonthepreparationdayforahighPassoverSabbaththatthedeedwasaccomplished.Aboutthreehoursbeforethesunwouldgodown,Jesussaid,“Itisfinished.”20Withthat,hebowedhisheadanddied.SooneproblemforthePhariseeswassolvedintimeforproperSabbathobservance.Butthereremainedtwoothers–thethieveswerestillalive.

AndnowcomesthemostbizarrerequirementforkeepingtheSabbathIcanimagine.“BecausetheJewsdidnotwantthebodiesleftonthecrossesduringtheSabbath,theyaskedPilatetohavethelegsbrokenandthebodiestakendown.”21SomehowithadbeendeterminedbytheauthoritarianreligiouselitethatitwasnotlawfultohealontheSabbath.Butitwas

mandatorytobreakpeople’slegsinordertokeepitproperly.Surelythisistheconsummateexampleofreligiousauthorityrunamuck.

Butthestorydoesnotendthere.Itisindarknessagain,earlyonSundaymorningthatMaryofMagdalawenttothetomb.Uponfindingitempty,sherantotellSimonandJohnthatthestonehadbeenremovedandJesuswasnolongerthere.Runningbacktothetombaslightisdawning,theyfindthatitistrue,heisnotthere.But:

“TheystilldidnotunderstandthatJesushadrisenfromthedead.Thenthediscipleswentbacktotheirhomes,butMarystoodoutsidethetombcrying.Asshewept,shebentovertolookintothetombandsawtwoangelsinwhite,seatedwhereJesus'bodyhadbeen,oneattheheadandtheotheratthefoot.Theyaskedher,‘Woman,whyareyoucrying?’‘TheyhavetakenmyLordaway,’shesaid,‘andIdon'tknowwheretheyhaveputhim.’Atthis,sheturnedaroundandsawJesusstandingthere,butshedidnotrealizethatitwasJesus.‘Woman,’hesaid,‘whyareyoucrying?Whoisityouarelookingfor?’

“Thinkinghewasthegardener,shesaid,‘Sir,ifyouhavecarriedhimaway,tellmewhereyouhaveputhim,andIwillgethim.’Jesussaidtoher,‘Mary.’SheturnedtowardhimandcriedoutinAramaic,‘Rabboni!’(whichmeansTeacher).

“Jesussaid,‘Donotholdontome,forIhavenotyetreturnedtotheFather.Goinsteadtomybrothersandtellthem,IamreturningtomyFatherandyourFather,tomyGodandyourGod.'MaryMagdalenewenttothediscipleswiththenews:‘IhaveseentheLord!’”22

Sothereitisagain.NotonlyistheannouncementofMessiahshipgiventoawomanwhobecomestherankingevangelist.Buttheannouncementoftheresurrectionisgiventoawomanwhoissentasthefirstapostletoproclaimthegoodnewsofsalvation.

Thusitisalsowithus.WeareallunitedintheserviceoftheMaster.“ThereisneitherJewnorGreek,slavenorfree,malenorfemale,foryouarealloneinChristJesus.IfyoubelongtoChrist,thenyouareAbraham'sseed,andheirsaccordingtothepromise.”23

RESPONSIVEREADING

LEADER: LeadmeLordtoknowYourgrace,notjustreceivedbutspreadabroad.

CONGREGATION: Teachmethatforgivenessshared,reflectsfrommetheloveofGod.

LEADER: LeadmeLord,leadmeLord,leadmethroughYourgrace.

CONGREGATION: LeadmebyYourgentlehand,soontoseeYourface.

SCRIPTURALREFERENCESFROMNIV

1 John1:1-32 John1:4-123 John1:15,23&264 John1:29-305 John1:32-346 John1:367 John1:408 John1:499 John2:14-1610 John2:23-2511 John2:24-3:112 John3:313 John3:414 John4:19-2115 John4:2516 John4:2617 John4:37-4218 John5:3-1519 John9:14-1620 John19:3021 John19:3122 John20:9-1823 Galatians3:28-29