Stop Hiding
In the 3rd and 4th chapter of John Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman seem to be polar opposites on the surface but they are actually the same on the inside. Both of them are too worried about what people think. Nicodemus had a good reputation. The Samaritan woman had a bad reputation. Both of them were hiding because of their reputation. They remind us that we can be lost in rebellion and religion. In the beginning, both Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, don’t want to be seen with Jesus. But in the end, they’ve completely changed.
Nicodemus, the guy who at first goes to Jesus in the middle of the night, now goes with Joseph of Arimathea, in the day, and asks Pilate for the body of Jesus, (John 13:39). The Samaritan woman drops her water jar and runs to the town and people she was trying to avoid by going to the well in the middle of the day, and announces to them “come, see a man who told me all that I ever did! Is this the Christ” (John 4:29)?
Earlier John wrote “In Christ was life, and his life brought light to everyone” (1:4). People in recovery have a saying, “secrets keep us sick.” We cannot heal if we keep hiding. Unfortunately, we can’t trust everyone, but there is someone out there we can trust. We have to keep looking and praying. And as this story illustrates so beautifully, we can always trust Jesus. He’ll meet you in the middle of the day, or the middle of the night. When Christ's light shines on us it liberates us. We’re no longer controlled by what people think.
• It’s ok if someone won’t forgive me if my Father in heaven has forgiven me.
• It’s ok if someone rejects me if God has accepted me.
• It’s ok if the whole world is against me if God is for me.
• It’s ok if someone doesn’t like me if God loves me.
• Who cares if people talk about me behind my back, if Christ is vindicating me before the throne!
Today, let God’s approval release you from need other people’s approval. What people think about you will never change how God feels about you. Let Go and Let God! Come out of the dark and into the light.