July 7, 2021
19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not interested in pleasing God. So everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”
The Bridegroom’s Friend
22-26 After this conversation, Jesus went on with his disciples into the Judean countryside and relaxed with them there. He was also baptizing. At the same time, John was baptizing over at Aenon near Salim, where water was abundant. This was before John was thrown into jail. John’s disciples got into an argument with the establishment Jews over the nature of baptism. They came to John and said, “Rabbi, you know the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan? The one you authorized with your witness? Well, he’s now competing with us. He’s baptizing, too, and everyone’s going to him instead of us.” John 3:19-26 The Message
Here is what I’m about: being honest and genuine with what I am about to say. Verses 19-21 is the most popular reason why people stop going to church. Not a lot of people want their sins exposed, so they don’t go to church. Instead, they continue to hide or not please God because they feel that it will burn when the truth reveals their sins, and they don’t want to go through that. What people do is stay in the darkness or their comfort zone because it is safe. Coming out is the best way to get even and stop looking over your shoulder. These are people we can’t change. The best scenario is to continue praying for those who stay in darkness that they will come out.
In verses 22-26, something interesting is going on with John and Jesus. The disciples of John seem to think that more people are going to Jesus than John. John’s disciples may be jealous because of another ministry going on baptizing other people, which is Jesus’ ministry. What John is doing is following Jesus, giving him all of his devotion to him. Just because you see other churches doing good things, it doesn’t mean that it is a way to plant a bad seed by debating what others are doing to get others to follow Jesus. There is no reason to be jealous; we are all on the same mission to get others to follow Jesus. John was disturbed by what his disciples were doing by being baited into a debate about Jesus’ mission. It doesn’t matter who goes where; it’s where everybody is going that matters. It doesn’t matter what church you are going to, but as long as you have a church is what matters.
Father, I pray over confusion and debate over who does what better. I pray that the same goal is applied to everyone when trying to achieve the goal. Thank you for your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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