Can I Take Your Arm?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God. 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. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 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 3:16-21

I try very hard in my daily life not to fall down, and I maintain a solid, though not perfect, track record. Entering dark rooms puts this precious track record at risk. As a partially sighted person, I find that any unfamiliar room has its risks. But the dark or dimly lit room feels like it’s out to get me. My anxious mind races until I get where I need to be in a dark room. As a child, this posed less of a problem. Going into the movie theater after the movie starts? Going to church after the lights dimmed for worship? That’s scary, but I simply grabbed Mom or Dad’s hand. Now, the stress is higher as an adult. Going to a concert, one of my favorite activities, and relying only on myself stresses me. The older I get, the harder the darkness becomes to navigate.

In his Gospel, the Apostle John often uses light as a synonym for Jesus. In these verses, the light and darkness illustrate the verdict that comes for those who reject Jesus. John presents two paths: the dark path that hates the light and the path in the light. The haters of the light find themselves in shame and condemned, while the lovers of the light find themselves "exposed" and "in God."

John connects the dark to practicing evil deeds. God separates Himself from this darkness and condemns evil. He does not leave the world He loves without a way back to Him. Like a lighthouse guiding His people home, He shines a light into the darkness. Now, the darkness exists for those who hate the light that would bring them to safety. Avoiding the light involves duplicity. An evildoer committed to his or her ways of evil avoids the light. As John says, he or she avoids the light “lest his deeds should be exposed.” John implies the shame and fear that come with unexposed evil. The world lies in darkness, condemned already. Those continuing in their evil deeds accept the verdict of condemnation. The consequence of rejecting God’s provided light proves dire.

The lover of the light walks a different path. Riding down any given road where I grew up in Georgia, tall pine trees would rise on every side obstructing any view beyond their leaves. But here in Texas, only open sky stretches out. Even though sunsets are prettier here in Texas, the openness makes me feel exposed at times. Walking in the light entails exposure. God shines His ray, Jesus, and deeds are exposed. For those who accept the light of Jesus let God see them and save them from their deeds. They are now found in Him. Rather than shame in darkness, deeds become clear and plain. Known and exposed. John says a believer “does the truth and comes to the light.” Unlike those in darkness, who continuously practice evil and run for fear of exposure, believers in the light approach the truth of God’s rescue and receive the gift of Jesus. In the light, the believers expose their deeds without lasting fear and shame. The reason they can do this is that they are now “in God,” relying fully on Him to save them. God sees Jesus when He looks at them. The exposing light becomes a comfort.

Last year I decided to attend a concert. I knew I would feel the familiar clenching anxiety of navigating darkness. But, dreading this feeling, I did something new. I told my friend attending with me that I felt a bit of stress. I asked her to keep an eye on me and if she’d allow me to grab her arm while walking through the crowds if needed. I felt humiliated asking her for this, but after asking, I instantly felt my body’s tension ease. Exposing this weakness released some of my fear. After asking for help, I knew someone would watch out for me, help me navigate through the darkness, and keep my falling-over record clean.

As believers, we do not need to fear the dark, because God shines His light our way. We reflect this light when we make plain our deeds, including our weaknesses and struggles, to Jesus and to His Church. When we do this, the shadows shrink. The rooms become brighter.