Chapter 3 includes two of the most well know phrases in the whole Bible. They both come in a conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus…

Jesus says to Nicodemus ‘you must be born again’ (v7). Jesus is trying to explain to a genuine seeker, how to enter God’s kingdom. He is speaking of a brand new start, something initiated by God’s spirit. His Spirit enters our lives as a sperm does a woman’s womb and a new being is created. Paul puts it this way ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.’ (2 Cor 5:17). That is surely something to get excited about!

The second well known verse is Jn 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’ They say familiarity breeds contempt, but this most familiar verse should inspire us with gratitude and worship to God for His great love, and for Jesus’ great sacrifice. Why not pause to thank Him right now.

Chapter 4 is the story of the woman at the well. Jesus demonstrates a willingness to break all the cultural taboos. This person was not only a woman, but a Samaritan, and an unrighteous outcast. He had multiple reasons not to speak to her. But as today, He reaches out to the least, the last and the lost. The woman confronted with her sin is eager to engage with Jesus (in contrast to Nicodemus who is far more reserved), and becomes a great evangelist to her village (v28-30).

TODAY’S RESPONSE:

Later in the chapter (v35) Jesus encourages his disciples to look around and see the great harvest of souls waiting for some one to be the good news to them. Like the disciples, perhaps we fail to see the harvest because the ones who are ready are not the ones we would choose to associate with.

What do you think?