This week, we come to a story in John that contains THE most famous Bible verse in the world (John 3:16)—used as an assurance of salvation for people who believe in Jesus and as a battering ram and altar call for those who do not. But within this soundbyte, there is more. There is a story of a person who is doing well in life, but is still searching for something. Jesus’ words to Him are an invitation; a perplexing and mysterious invitation to the adventure that is a whole journey of faith. It is hard for Nicodemus (and for the rest of us) to accept Jesus’ invitation because this journey is one of light, meaning we would be fully seen and fully known. And being fully loved worth that kind of exposure? How can we carry God’s illuminating grace to our corners of the world, even as we feel our way forward on our own journeys?