In a recent message, I wanted to comb through Jesus’ dialog with people and learn from watching His methods of communication. As I began to dig into the gospels, I knew I’d barely even scratch the surface.



Having done an inductive study on the gospel of John, I decided to highlight Jesus’ first conversations that John recorded.

In John 3, Jesus’ first engagement is with Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night. People who preach on this passage often make a big deal about the fact that Nicodemus doesn’t want to be seen by his peers. But Jesus doesn’t seem to have any issues with it.

Contrary to the other religious leaders who approached Jesus with disdain, Nicodemus is sincerely curious to know more about Jesus. This is indicated in the questions he asks and the way he responds to Jesus’ strategic questions.

Nicodemus, as a teacher of the law, would have memorized the first five books of the Old Testament, as well as Psalms and some of the prophets. Jesus graciously asked him questions to draw out what He knew was inside, and that would challenge him to think deeper and set his sight higher.

If you read the entire story in John 3:1-21, you will see Jesus constantly pointed to Heaven, and to belief in Jesus as the way to be saved.

The next conversation takes place in John 4, where we find the longest recorded conversation of Jesus in all the gospels.

When he passes through Samaria, Jesus takes a rest near Jacob’s well. There he meets the Samaritan woman, whom we learn has had four husbands and is currently living with a man. Shame would have marked her life due to the fact that if a woman was divorced it wasn’t her doing. In that day, the man would have “put her away” — imagine having been rejected four times by men.

Talk about being hungry for love and acceptance!

As the Rabbi engages the Samaritan woman in conversation — something that was unheard of — He shows unconditional love in asking her pointed questions, and drawing out the truth from within her but never shaming her.

Eventually, her spiritual hunger appears:

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” ~John 4:19-26



This is the first and only time Jesus reveals Himself as Messiah — to one rejected by men, but beloved of God!



In both conversations, Jesus makes it clear that Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman are outside of the Kingdom of Heaven. (See the “you / we” highlights above)

Both of them, thirsty for truth, ultimately come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, as both declare He is Messiah.

I recently had a conversation with someone I love dearly. He explained what life was like growing up in a family where he alternated weekends at two very different churches. One of the churches, he said, always talked about the need to “pray a prayer.”

His words to me were something like, “I don’t believe God would reject any of His children. I wouldn’t reject my children.”

I listened, waiting for any prompting from the Lord to explain. None came.

But I’ve been thinking about him and praying for him ever since. Praying for the opportunity to clarify that when we are born, we are not yet children of God. Yes, God created us, but because of our ancestors turning away from Him in the Garden of Eden, we rejected God as our Father, thus becoming illegitimate children who need a new birth.

This is the reason Jesus came from Heaven to Earth, to not only show the way to be saved, but to BE the way to be saved.

Yes, dearly beloved, we are born outside of the Family of God and we do need to turn to God to become His children. As Jesus told Nicodemus, we must be born again. (John 3:3)

Oh! Come and talk with Jesus! He is waiting for you, He wants to satisfy your thirst for truth and belonging.

Jesus points us to “the way” when John the Baptist, the last Old Testament prophet is slammed in prison, Jesus takes the proverbial baton, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” ~Mark 1:14-15

The gospel:

Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News (gospel) I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless you believed in vain.

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. ~1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Are you thirsty?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.
Acts 16:31

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:28-31