The Painful Light

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The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  (John 1:5)

All of us have experienced being in a totally dark room.  After some time, usually after 20 minutes or so, our eyes become accustomed to the darkness enough so that we can distinguish shades of grey, and we can identify the shapes of bulky objects.  But no matter how long we remain in the darkness, we can never gain the confidence to walk without scooting our feet and extending our arms in all directions to feel our way around.  Suddenly, someone enters the dark room and flips on the light switch.  The light offends and repels us.  We hide our faces from the effulgent intruder, but as we submit to its luminous warmth, our confidence is restored, and we no longer have to grope the air to find our way.  We see all things clearly and in brilliant color.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), “And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5).  The world is in darkness, and it hates the light.  “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John3:20).  The light causes intense pain.  It exposes sin for what it is, and the world does not want to see sin for what it is.

It should not catch us by surprise when the world hates the light and then projects its hatred of the light onto us.  “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world … therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18-19).  “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John3:21).  For those who are acquainted with the light, Jesus said, “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).