Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman

Two character are introduced in John 3&4.

Nicodemus was a Ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee and a Teacher of Israel. That means he was a student of God’s word and knew it forwards and backwards, inside and out. He came to Jesus with a simple statement… “Rabbi we know that you are a teacher sent from God because no one can do the signs you are doing unless God is with him”.

Jesus, never one to mince words or waste time, cuts to the chase…. “Except one be born again he cannot see the (coming) Kingdom of God.”

You see, Jesus knew who Nicodemus was and knew that Nicodemus knew what was in the Old Testament (from a human perspective). Nicodemus was obedient to the 10 commandments, kept the proper form of worship, kept the Sabbath and feast days properly, etc., etc., etc. Jesus just needed to correct some misconceptions that Nicodemus had about the coming Kingdom.

The second character introduced was different than Nicodemus. She was an un-named Samaritan woman. In contrast to Nicodemus she knew next to nothing about the Old Testament. As a Samaritan all she had been taught and all she knew were the first 5 books of the Bible. Samaritans had improper worship and they didn’t celebrate the Passover properly. The Jews despised them for their corruption of God’s commandments.

Jesus was sitting at a well when the woman approached and asked her for a drink of water. The woman, knowing that Jesus was a Jew, was surprised that he would even acknowledge her presence and was bold enough to state that to him.

Jesus replied, if you knew who I am you could have asked and I would have given you living water. The conversation evolves into the age old question between the Samaritans and the Jews… where is the proper place to worship? Jesus informs her that the Jews are worshipping correctly (and the Samaritans are not) but then proceeds to tell her that a time is coming… the coming of the Kingdom… when neither place will be the correct place to worship.

So we might ask the question… why didn’t Jesus answer the Samaritan woman like he did Nicodemus? Why didn’t he tell her… “except one be born again he cannot enter the Kingdom of God?” And the answer is because they were in different places in their understanding of God’s word

The reality is Jesus taught them both the same basic thing. Both audiences had to believe that in the new Kingdom, citizens would have to worship in Spirit and in Truth, he just took different approaches to accomplish that task.

Of course the same thing is true today. You cannot necessarily teach two individuals the exact same way but we do have to end up in the same place. If we have the idea that we can just quote some passage like Acts 2:38 with the idea of accept it or reject it and feel like we have done our job as a teacher then we are sadly mistaken.

The Gospel is for all including those who know their Bible (but misunderstand it) and for those who know next to nothing about the Bible. As a teacher prepare yourself for every kind of student.

Pray for the Holy Spirit Luke 11:13

Luke chapter 11 begins with Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray. He first gives them the initial form of prayer and then he teaches some concepts about prayer.

The first concept about our prayers is a comparison of asking our neighbors for something and asking God for something. Sometimes we almost have to beg our earthly friends to do something for us but God is not like that… he will willingly answer our prayer requests.

The second concept is the value of the thing requested in prayer. Parents will willingly give and address their children’s physical needs. God however will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him.

That raises several questions… We can ask for the Holy Spirit? Who would even think to ask for the Holy Spirit? And just what are we asking for?

Right on the heels of this teaching, Jesus casts out a demon, i.e. an evil spiritual being. This isn’t just some random story Jesus decides to tell. There is a connection.

In verse 24, Jesus describes a man who had an evil spirit in him and the evil spirit decides to leave and find another human to live in. He can’t find one so he decides to go back home to the human he used to live in and takes seven other evil or unclean spirits to go with him. Jesus concludes that the last state of the man is worse than the first state.

Who would ask God for the Holy Spirit? Perhaps some poor soul who had an evil spirit.

You see, the demon decided to leave the man on his own accord. He was looking for another place to live. The man had not done anything to get rid of the demon or made any change his life to prevent demon possession.

Including, having faith in God and manifesting that faith by praying for God’s protection in the form of the Holy Spirit. Without God's help the unfortunate man was at the mercy of demons.

This dovetail sweetly with Ephesians 1:13-14… “In whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Once we believe, God seals us with the Holy Spirit. A seal is an identifying stamp. What is its purpose? It’s a no trespassing sign for Satan. It is also a down payment of our inheritance which when fully paid is life eternal with God.

Have faith in God. Pray to him because he will answer and he can give greater gifts than can be found on earth. Then… you won’t have to worry about Satan.

45th Wedding Anniversary

This is something I posted to Facebook on June 1st. Happy anniversary to my wife of 45 years. 45 years ago today, one week after graduating from High School, we eloped to Lake Charles, Louisiana. I tell people the reason we did that is because at the time... in Texas... they wouldn't let first cousins marry. But they would in Louisiana. Of course that's a joke. Julie Bedwell is the only girl I ever dated. A lot of people would say that we somehow found our soul mates as if failures in marriage are somehow due to bad luck. The truth is that we were committed to each other based on our faith in Jesus Christ and would not allow Satan to separate what God had put together. God has blessed me in many ways but my greatest blessing has been Julie Perkins.