John 3:19, Light Has Come

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 

The appearance of the light, the light that is Jesus, precipitates a crisis. There are two directions a person can go: toward the light or toward the darkness. In a world without direction, Jesus is the life-giving compass of light dropped into the darkness. He exposes evil, both in general, in the world, and specifically, in our personal failures. 

How shall a person respond? To head toward Jesus, one realizes that before hearing the gospel they have lived in darkness. They have covered up evil in their lives that needs to be brought into the daylight for examination. They need a new life that will be lived in the light, in a relationship with Jesus that leads to eternal life. One might think of Zacchaeus from Luke 19. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who upon meeting Jesus embraced him, repented of his sins, and led a new life, moving toward the light of life and away from the darkness of his previous existence. 

Think about how Jesus has shone light into your life. In prayer, talk to him about this and give thanks for the light in your life