Hating the Light - John 3:20

John the apostle shared how Jesus told Nicodemus, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”, and in chapter three and verse twenty of his book, John shared how Jesus said, “everyone that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” where we read:

For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

The verse reads, “For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, ...” John began with the words, “for every one” which means “because, since and on account that each, the whole, all and every person” “that does evil” or “who performs and produces labors, annoyances, hardships and wickedness” “hates the light” which means “detests the truth and it's knowledge”, “neither comes to the light” or “no and not in any way arises and comes forth to the truth and it's knowledge”. John shared how people who perform wickedness not only detest the “truth”, but they also detest the “knowledge” of the “truth”.

The verse continues, “... lest his deeds should be reproved.” John added the words, “lest his deeds” which means “unless the person whether male or female's business, acts, enterprises and undertakings” “should be reproved” or “convict, refute and confute those who do them”. John shared how Jesus said a person resists “coming to the light” because they know their “acts and undertakings” will be “reproved”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus said people who “perform wicked deeds” “hate” the truth and the knowledge of it because when the “light” shines upon them, they need to “change their ways” and be “reproved”. Jesus came to die for the sins of the world, and those who believe and trust in Him as their “Savior” also gain Him as their “Lord” which means He governs over their life. Jesus will “forgive” the sins of those who “come” to Him, and He will “cleanse” them from their “wicked ways”. Some people simply do not want to change. Their behavior and mindset keeps them from receiving Jesus who promises to grant them “everlasting life” with His Father God even as Jonah the prophet said, “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy” (See Jonah 2:8). Those who are wise will forsake their “evil deeds” and allow Jesus to “forgive, cleanse and reprove” their “wicked ways”.

Next time John shares how Jesus says, “he that does truth comes to the light”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".