While I Was Reading Sunday- John 3

 While I was reading in the Gospel of John I especially enjoyed the many references to light and dark. John makes use of these symbols almost like a theme to his entire account of the Savior's life. In chapter three Nicodemus comes to the Savior in the dark, perhaps to avoid other Jews from seeing him with Jesus. Nicodemus will be leaving enlightened by the message of everlasting life through a spiritual birth.

    John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

   A natural man or woman, being in spiritual darkness, cannot even see the kingdom of God around them. A change must occur much like what occurs during mortal birth in order for us to see and enter.

   John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

   A baby, in an environment of darkness, must come out of the water, out of his mother, who spills her own blood to bring him to life. So we at baptism come out of the water, with the assistance of the Savior, Jesus Christ, through his spilled blood, to enter a pathway which eventually leads to life with Him and like Him

 Enoch, citing the teachings of Adam, elaborated on the doctrine: “As ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, … even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood … ; for by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified and by the blood ye are sanctified” (Moses 6:59–60). So I take this to mean that our spiritual rebirth starts with baptism,  then upon receiving the Holy Ghost, His influence starts a change within us that makes us "right" or justified, and finally the atonement cleanses the complete inner vessel. 

   After having given the greatest gift of his Son, the Father provides a sequel, the next greatest gift: everlasting life—his kind of life—for all his children 

   John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

  Why would we pass on this amazing gift? Here John comes back to the contrast between light and dark.

 John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. "

  As much as seeing my inadaquacies and weaknesses makes me feel vulnerable, being in the light is preferable. I come to Jesus like Nicodemus, hiding my sins but needing to be with Him more than protecting myself.