John 4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water:
There is a huge contrast between the incident in chapter three and the incident in chapter 4. Nicodemus and this woman are polar opposite to one another. I don’t want you to miss this contrast.
Let’s think about these contests:
- Nicodemus was a man but this person in chapter 4 is a woman
- Nicodemus was important but this woman was not
- Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews but she was a simple Samaritan woman
- Nicodemus was a Jew but she is a Samaritan
- Nicodemus was a Pharisee but this woman belongs to no religious party
- Nicodemus was a scholar but she was uneducated
- Nicodemus had seen and witnessed Jesus miracles but this woman had never seen him before
- Nicodemus was well-respected but she was shunned
- Nicodemus was wealthy but this woman was poor
- Nicodemus was highly moral but she was immoral
- Nicodemus was called by his name but she is unnamed
- Nicodemus came to Jesus but Jesus came to this woman
- Nicodemus met Jesus at night but she meets Jesus at noon
John could not find two people who were greater in contrasts than these two. The only way these two would ever be mentioned in the same breath was in connection with Jesus Christ. Why does John present to us this contrast between Nicodemus and this woman at the well?
I think so that we will see that there is no one who rises so high that they are above salvation and that there are none who can sink too low!
John places these two side by side to show that the gospel is for everyone. Not everyone will be saved but there is no distinction with the gospel. Regardless of gender, race, education, wealth, social position, or religious affiliation, all may be saved thorough faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is accessible by both the morally good and immoral. Those who are religious and those who are wicked.
Everyone has boundaries that hinder salvation. But Jesus overcomes all boundaries that separate people from God. What separated Nicodemus from God was different than what separated this woman from God. But Jesus crosses over these boundaries to show us that anyone and everyone can be saved.
Nicodemus could see the kingdom of heaven and this woman could see the same kingdom of heaven if they would believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The gospel is to be preached and shared to all people without distinction. No one is too good to not be presented with the gospel and no-one is too evil to not be presented with the gospel.
We are not to assume the good people are ok and bad people are too far gone. God saves people from every tribe, every tongue, every nation, and every people. It is a wonderful truth. Salvation is available to both the Jews and Gentile.
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