The Human Spectrum
For your reading: John 3:1-21 and 4:1-42

"[Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night" John 3:1.
"…a Samaritan woman came to draw water" John 4:7.

Charlie, Troy and Paula are friends at the same church. After attending a witnessing workshop, they decided to meet regularly to encourage one another to be intentional witnesses. Let's listen in.

One day, Troy said, "My boss doesn't seem to care at all about church."

"Why not?" asked Charlie.

"He's always out playing with his boat or some other toy on Sunday morning. Besides, he says he already learned it all as a kid and even has the Sunday School attendance pins in a drawer somewhere to prove it."

"I've got the exact opposite situation," said Paula. "At our office we have a new custodian from Nicaragua, named Sofia. I enjoy chatting with her."

"So what's the problem?" Troy asked.

"She used to be a Jehovah's Witness and asks lots of questions that stump me. Besides, her English is limited, and my Spanish is nonexistent."

"Sounds like you two have some great challenges," Charlie commented.

"Too challenging," Troy heaved a sigh. "Sometimes I doubt if our witness will make any impact at all."

"I hate to admit it," Paula said, "but you may be right."

Charlie smiled. "I know how you two feel, but let me show you something God taught me in two familiar Bible stories."

"What stories?" Paul asked.

"Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, and then in the next chapter, His encounter with the woman at the well."

The three friends read the familiar stories. Charlie then suggested they write two lists comparing Nicodemus and the woman. Here's what they came up with:

Then Charlie said, "These two could hardly be more different. Why do you think John placed their stories near the beginning of his Gospel?"

Troy rubbed his jaw as he thought, "Maybe, to show that if the Gospel is for people at such opposite extremes, then it must be for anybody we might ever meet."

"I think you're right," Charlie agreed. "In spite of the apparent obstacles, Jesus spoke His saving Word and the Holy Spirit changed their hearts."

Then Paula added, "Have you guys noticed how similar Nicodemus is to Troy's boss, and how much the woman at the well is like Sofia?"

As they studied John 3 and 4 for another half-hour, they discovered how Jesus approached Nicodemus and the woman, and discussed how they might follow the Lord's example in their own witness situations.

1. List one or two friends/acquaintances with whom you would like to share Christ.
2. Where do your friends stand on the chart of opposite extremes represented by Nicodemus and the woman at the well?
3. In John 3 and 4, what lessons modeled by Jesus can you use with your friends?