What is the meaning of John 3:20? Everyone who does evil “Everyone who does evil…” (John 3:20a) • Scripture is clear that evil is not limited to a select few; “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). • Evil involves active rebellion, as seen when “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and passive neglect, “to the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). • The universality of sin means every person must reckon with this verdict (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 53:6). Hates the Light “…hates the Light…” (John 3:20b) • The Light is Jesus Himself: “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). • Hatred here is more than emotion; it is a settled opposition. Darkness and Light cannot coexist (2 Corinthians 6:14). • This hostility surfaces whenever truth confronts sin, just as Cain “murdered his brother… because his deeds were evil” (1 John 3:12). • Rejecting the Light is ultimately rejecting God, for “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Does not come into the Light “…and does not come into the Light…” (John 3:20c) • Sin drives people to avoid Christ’s presence, echoing Adam and Eve hiding among the trees (Genesis 3:8). • Jesus lamented, “you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:40). • Persistent refusal is a moral choice, not a lack of information (Romans 1:18–20). • The Light is always available—“Come to Me, all you who are weary” (Matthew 11:28)—yet many still “love darkness rather than the Light” (John 3:19). For fear that his deeds will be exposed “…for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:20d) • Exposure means bringing hidden sin into plain sight, as “everything exposed by the light becomes visible” (Ephesians 5:13). • People cling to secrecy to preserve the illusion of autonomy; yet “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are uncovered” (Hebrews 4:13). • The fear of exposure traps the sinner, whereas confession brings freedom: “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). • Light does not merely reveal; it heals. Walking in the Light results in cleansing “by the blood of Jesus His Son” (1 John 1:7). summary John 3:20 paints a sobering picture: every person practicing evil instinctively dislikes Christ’s revealing Light, refuses to approach Him, and hides for fear of having sin uncovered. Yet the same Light that exposes also offers cleansing and life (John 3:21). Choosing Light over darkness is the only path from hidden shame to forgiven freedom. |
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