“Born Again”John: 3-4, Nicodemus & The Woman at the Well

Introduction

Nativity Witnesses

Shepherds: young, simple,

lower-class

Kings: wise, upper-class,

Gentile

Simeon: old, middle-class,

Jew, man

Anna: old, upper middle-class,

woman, Jew

John 3: Jesus teaches Nicodemus that all must be

born of water and the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of

God

Jesus teaches with a hook, then he enlightens

and lets the Spirit testify

John 3:1-2, Nicodemus comes at night

Why did he come at night?

What is his testimony based on?

John 3:3-5, What does it mean to be ‘born of water’,

‘born of the Spirit’?

What does it mean to be born

again?

John 3:16,18

Believe in Christ

Mosiah 5:2

Mighty change, no more disposition to do evil

Alma 5:12-14, 21

Humble yourselves, Trust in God, Repent

Mosiah 5:7

Hearts are changed

President Ezra Taft

Benson“…we must be careful, as we seek to become more and more

godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope.

Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves

growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible. The

scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives

changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the

Younger, Paul on the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into

the night, King Lamoni. Such astonishing examples of the power

to change even those steeped in sin give confidence that the

Atonement can reach even those deepest in despair.

“But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable

examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the

exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos,

and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of

people who find the process of repentance much more subtle,

much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the

Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet

lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the

Lamanites, who the Lord said ‘were baptized with fire and with

the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.’”

Choosing light over

darkness

John 3:19-21

Why do we retreat from the light?

Definition “Reprove”: to scold or correct usually gently or

with kindly intent

Definition “Wrought”: carefully formed or worked into

shape, beaten into shape by artistry or effort (wrought

iron)

What happened to Nicodemus?

History of Samaria

Both groups descended from Abraham and practiced

‘similar’ religions. North of Judea, South of Galilee.

722 BC - the Northern Kingdom is conquered by

Assyria. The tribes are scattered and intermarry with

Pagans. This mixing produced the Samaritans.

For 700 years hostility between the two groups grew.

Christ makes a point of showing their redeeming

qualities. Leper who comes back, ‘Good Samaritan’

etc.

Jesus teaches a Samaritan woman

at Jacob’s Well

Nicodemus had heard/seen Jesus’

miracles. This woman had no

knowledge of Jesus.

John 4:3-4

Why did he ‘need’ to go through

Samaria? vs. 35

Who are modern-day Samaritans?

John 4:6-8

Sixth hour: Noon

The Living Water

John 4:9-10

He had no requirement of her to be righteous before he would teach

her. (Matt 9:13)

John 4:11-12

She doesn’t understand but her respect and curiosity is growing -

“Sir” (Lord)

John 4:13-15

Why will they never thirst again?

Why did she believe it was real and that he could give it to her?

The Living Water

John 4:16-19

Why does he ask her about

her husband? How does

she respond?

John 4:20-23

This is new doctrine. Jews

believed in specific places

of worship.

Seeds of Testimony

John 4:24-29

He acknowledges who he is after

admitting he knows her sins.

What is her reaction?

Which “things” did he tell her? (29)

What else could she have done?

John 4:39-42

What were the results of her

testimony?

Camille Fronk Olsen

“Life-changing revelation came to her, revelation as

profound as we find in scripture. But her conversion was

not in the dramatic fashion of Alma the Younger or Saul

on the road to Damascus. In a quiet and contemplative

way, the Samaritan woman received a clear witness

while in the midst of doing ordinary household chores. In

her humble way, she therefore encourages any who feel

disenfranchised to trust in the Lord’s invitation to drink

from his living water and experience his love and power

to save them.”

Conclusion

John 21:25

Many other things could

have been written. Why

were these two stories

included?

They teach of the process

of being born again.

They teach us of the need

and source of Living Water