The Light That Saves
John 3:16-21 (NLT)
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
Reflection
In C.S. Lewis’s beloved story The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we meet a boy named Eustace. Eustace is a selfish and skulking little boy who spends the first half of the book sneaking around making his two cousins, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, miserable. During the voyage that they take together, when the group stops on a relatively deserted island, Eustace stumbles upon a pile of treasure. Blinded by greed, he puts on a gold arm band and falls asleep. When he wakes up, he has turned into a dragon, and the arm band is cutting into his arm.
In this moment, Eustace’s sin – greed - is exposed for all to see; after all, it is really hard to miss a dragon! Humiliated, Eustace withdraws from everyone because they can see him for who he truly is. Weeping bitterly, he tries to tear off his scales by himself, but to no avail. Finally, the great lion, Aslan, reveals himself to Eustace, tears off the dragon scales, and flings Eustace into a pool of water. The ripping off of the dragon skin and the sensation of Eustace’s new skin hitting the water is described as a searing pain that felt good after the initial sting. After this experience, Eustace is restored to his companions and redeemed from his wicked ways.
Today’s reading tells how God’s light has come into the world but that many people reject Him for fear their sins will be exposed if they get too close to Him (verse 20). It is a painful experience when our sins are exposed, but it’s this expose that opens the door for redemption. Our sin keeps us bound in shame and seclusion, but once the painful exposure to the light passes, the light sets us free and shows others that you are doing what God wants (verse 21). Many believe they can avoid pain by remaining in darkness, but today’s scripture teaches us that we are already judged if we reject God’s gift and spend our lives trying to avoid the light (verse 18).
Verse 19 tells us that “God’s light came into the world.” Think about the shepherds who were the first to hear of Jesus’ birth – God’s light coming into the world - thousands of years ago. The shepherds physical and spiritual filth is hidden by the cover of deep darkness – the physical night and spiritual night of sin and death. But when a heavenly host appears to tell them the good news of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds come to the light and worship Him.
This Christmas, let’s be lovers of the light and worship God for the gift of his Son, Jesus.
Action Steps
Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”
Are you walking in darkness? Jesus is the light that saves. Come to the light and worship Him.
Listen to “The Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cLhaZIBSpo
Prayer
God, thank You for sending the Light of the World to us. Please expose my sins to Your light and mercy. Forgive me for __________ and restore my relationship with You and the people in my life. Let others see what You have done for me, and let it draw their hearts to know You for themselves.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
Reflection
In C.S. Lewis’s beloved story The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we meet a boy named Eustace. Eustace is a selfish and skulking little boy who spends the first half of the book sneaking around making his two cousins, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, miserable. During the voyage that they take together, when the group stops on a relatively deserted island, Eustace stumbles upon a pile of treasure. Blinded by greed, he puts on a gold arm band and falls asleep. When he wakes up, he has turned into a dragon, and the arm band is cutting into his arm.
In this moment, Eustace’s sin – greed - is exposed for all to see; after all, it is really hard to miss a dragon! Humiliated, Eustace withdraws from everyone because they can see him for who he truly is. Weeping bitterly, he tries to tear off his scales by himself, but to no avail. Finally, the great lion, Aslan, reveals himself to Eustace, tears off the dragon scales, and flings Eustace into a pool of water. The ripping off of the dragon skin and the sensation of Eustace’s new skin hitting the water is described as a searing pain that felt good after the initial sting. After this experience, Eustace is restored to his companions and redeemed from his wicked ways.
Today’s reading tells how God’s light has come into the world but that many people reject Him for fear their sins will be exposed if they get too close to Him (verse 20). It is a painful experience when our sins are exposed, but it’s this expose that opens the door for redemption. Our sin keeps us bound in shame and seclusion, but once the painful exposure to the light passes, the light sets us free and shows others that you are doing what God wants (verse 21). Many believe they can avoid pain by remaining in darkness, but today’s scripture teaches us that we are already judged if we reject God’s gift and spend our lives trying to avoid the light (verse 18).
Verse 19 tells us that “God’s light came into the world.” Think about the shepherds who were the first to hear of Jesus’ birth – God’s light coming into the world - thousands of years ago. The shepherds physical and spiritual filth is hidden by the cover of deep darkness – the physical night and spiritual night of sin and death. But when a heavenly host appears to tell them the good news of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds come to the light and worship Him.
This Christmas, let’s be lovers of the light and worship God for the gift of his Son, Jesus.
Action Steps
Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”
Are you walking in darkness? Jesus is the light that saves. Come to the light and worship Him.
Listen to “The Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cLhaZIBSpo
Prayer
God, thank You for sending the Light of the World to us. Please expose my sins to Your light and mercy. Forgive me for __________ and restore my relationship with You and the people in my life. Let others see what You have done for me, and let it draw their hearts to know You for themselves.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Don’t Stop Short of JesusThe Cross Is God’s Invitation to YouRemembering the OwnerThe OwnerThe Illusion of Self-Made SuccessActs 26:12–23 | Paul’s Encounter with JesusActs 26: 1–11 | Agrippa Grants PermissionInvited From The OutsideSurrender Creates PeaceWhen Blessing Becomes ForgetfulnessWhat A Pastor Means When They Say... | The Branch Living as Stewards, Not OwnersCreated for RelationshipThe Heart Behind the GiftSurrender GainsThe StewardFaithful StewardsOne Percent BetterEverything Belongs to GodThe Evaluation Is ComingActs 26:24-32 | Agrippa Parries Paul's ChallengeRedefining Success | The Branch The EvaluationHow You View God Determines EverythingThe Economy of Kingdom InvestmentChoose Your Category WiselyAnchored in Steadfast LoveActs 27:1-3 | Paul Sails for RomeDiscerning Between Good And Evil | The BranchLoved Enough to Be DisciplinedThe Steadfast Love of GodReturning to God’s WayCrying Out from the DepthsLiving with Wise Awareness
February
Partnering with God’s MissionBuilding Kingdom FruitTHE GIVER | PASTOR ANTHONY LOMBARDIWorship Through SacrificeNavigating God's Calling Within MarriageTrusting God’s ProvisionActs 27: 13-20 | The Storm at Sea | TCBSActs 27: 4-12 | From Caesarea to Fair HavensFrom Self-Focus to Kingdom-FocusFrom Death to LifeThe Answer Is a PersonEmpowered for MissionActs 27:21–26 | TCBSTHE CHURCH | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONDesigned for CommunityAnger, Justice and Psalms of Judgment | The BranchHeaven Invading EarthBetter Together PURPOSED RELATIONSHIPS | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONLifted When You FallWarmth in the ColdProtected by the CordWhen to Wait, When to Work | The BranchOne Body, One MissionWhere Your Treasure IsThe Antidote to AnxietyINVEST HEARTS AND FINANCES | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONReturn to MeActs 27: 39-44 | The Shipwreck | TCBSTreasures That LastThe Heaps of Hezekiah
2025
January
A New Heart and SpiritSowing in Tears, Reaping in JoyFrom the Pit to a New SongNo Other God's Before MeSeek First the KingdomStoring Treasures in HeavenServing One MasterTrusting God with EverythingThe Power of InfluenceRelationships That InfluenceFinding Godly FriendsIron Sharpens IronSpeaking Truth In LovePrioritizing God's PresenceChoosing the Better PortionLiving With Eternal PerspectiveCreating Margin For God's PurposesBearing Fruit Through AbidingReleasing the Past, Embracing God's FutureTransformed By God's LoveOur Past And A Hope For A FutureEmbracing Our New Identity In ChristRunning The Race Of Perseverance
No Comments