NO MORE FEAR OF EXPOSURE
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. John 3:21
Jesus, through these words, is still in conversation with Nicodemus. That makes them especially loaded because of who they were intended for. Nicodemus was a highly educated man, a senator, a member of the well-defined religious system of the Pharisees, and none of these pedigrees were friendly to the graces of Christ. The codes of conduct of the Pharisees were rigid. His behavior was rooted in tradition, in training, and in the sure expectations of his peers. No one deviated without grave consequence. For Jesus to speak of another kind of 'grid' was probably blowing all of his fuses. I can picture Nidodeumus trying to take in what Jesus was saying.
Jesus has pointed out that the children of darkness hate the light because it exposes their evil deeds. They would rather hide than be healed. Now, he paints a contrast. A child of God loves to come to the light, repeatedly, to see if what he does is reflective of the Light. He welcomes the exposure because he knows the exhilaration of seeing his life used by God. He has felt the warmth of God's smile on his back, the thrill of walking in His favor. He knows the humility of seeing meager efforts turn a great success only because the supernatural anointing of God is upon them.
Each of us knows how to live according to the darkness. We know, by default, how to hide. We know what it's like to feel the pressure of others, to cave into their expectations even though we know better. Darkness is a powerful force and our flesh travels easily down its well paved roads. The Light calls us to carve out a new path. It can often be through seemingly unchartered territory. The footsteps others leave behind can be hard to find but they're there. These are the footsteps of the obedient disciples who took every thought captive and brought their lives, daily, to the Light for inspection. "Search me and know me," they cried. "I love Your ways and want to only know the joy of walking with You."
Few others may accompany the disciple on his journey. He counts the cost, weighs what he will lose and that may be substantial, but he is reminded again of all he will gain. He is a Christian hedonist, after all. Pleasure in the glory of God and the companionship of His Son eclipses anything this world might offer. He is willing to leave family and friends behind, if necessary. Any vestige of darkness becomes growingly distasteful in his mouth.
Of all days, I count the cost, Jesus. You showed me how on this Good Friday. Amen
