Is Jesus like a dentist?

I’m preaching on John 3.16-21 this Sunday at CCIW Five Dock. The passage has some profound insights into the human heart. John records that what stops people from coming to Jesus is not a question of his relevance or doubt of his historicity. But what really stops people from coming to Jesus is the darkness of their heart.

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.  For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. (John 3.19-20 NRSV)

During the sermon I’m going to do an interactive skit involving someone from the congregation. Without giving too much away, I try to convince the particular person that going to the dentist is a good thing.

Many people are afraid of going to the dentist for what will be exposed, will he/she find something wrong with me that is going to cause pain, cost money or take up valuable time? So, many of us take the wise option of burying our heads in the sand. Surely that will fix the toothache.

Coming to Jesus is to come and have him expose you–for his judgment to penetrate deep into your own heart. Sure, that can be painful and costly, and you can bet Jesus will demand your time. But isn’t it worth it!

What do you think stops us from having the Light of World expose us? I’d love to hear your thoughts…