Walking–in Light!
By Evilin Bastin
Evilin Bastin is a participant in the Identity and Purpose Academy and a valued contributor to our blog. With a rich background in missionary work and church ministry, she is now stepping into a new season as a composer (@EvilinBastinCompositora), having discovered music as her core gift and purpose through her journey with PAL.
Evilin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Seminário Teológico Batista do Sul do Brasil-STBSB (now Faculdade Batista-FABAT) and is deeply devoted to studying and interpreting Scripture. In this post, she shares her insights on the contrasting approaches of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman as they each encounter Jesus. Keep reading—you’ll be glad you did!
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“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:21)
In the Gospel of John, we find a significant contrast between two passages that stand in stark opposition, although they appear side by side, precisely to emphasize the difference in attitudes. They are found in chapters 3 and 4. In chapter three, a man comes to talk to Jesus at night, probably to avoid being seen, but intentionally seeking Him. In chapter 4, a woman came during the scorching sun of midday to avoid other people and unintentionally met Him.
Nicodemus oscillated between belief and unbelief; he was one of the foremost doctors of the law but failed to grasp the reality of the new birth Jesus was trying to convey to him. Yet, the Samaritan woman—far from being prominent among her people and instead, being socially rejected both as a woman and as a Samaritan, besides having had five men and none of them being her husband in truth—is the one who fully understands and accepts Jesus’ message. She is surprised by Jesus’ presence; however, she embraces His message that He is the Messiah.
Nicodemus is not willing to be seen with Christ, but the Samaritan woman is willing to break, together with Jesus, all the norms, social protocols, and cultural codes of her time. They talk, which would not have been acceptable between a man and a woman in an isolated place without witnesses, especially given that He was Jewish and she was a Samaritan. In fact, a stranger could not even make visual contact with a woman in a public place, let alone talk to her. Nonetheless, He did and even invited her to be His follower. She became one of His key financial supporters (Luke 8:1–3).
Jesus ignored 500 years of hostility between Jews and Samaritans, setting aside all the historical bitterness and animosity. Samaria had served, 300 years before this dialogue, as a base for the Greeks who used the city to control Jewish territory. Samaritans even spread the bones of dead people around the temple during Passover (Pesach), rendering the area impure and making it impossible for the Jewish people to celebrate the feast. Since then, the relationship had grown cold. By talking to this woman, Jesus bridged a massive gap between the two peoples.
Nicodemus was part of the Pharisees—a group that hated Jesus and looked for opportunities to destroy Him. Although Nicodemus sympathized with Jesus and recognized Him as coming from God, he was still constrained by the social pressure of his group. He was not free enough to live out his faith fully. Jesus gave him food for thought when He told him that “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly.” That was a direct challenge to someone who came looking for Him under the cover of night.
Some reflections on this situation:
– How am I living out my faith—or my lack of it?
– Am I at least being honest about what I believe before others?
– Why are there certain things inside me I don’t want others to see? Am I brave enough to bring these questions before Jesus?
– Why can’t I be authentic enough to live in the light of what I truly believe?
– Am I truly a son or daughter of the Light, or do my actions hide the dark inconsistencies within me?
This month, as we reflect on taking action, make the decision to walk with Jesus—in the Light!
Be fully committed to Him publicly, despite social pressure or cultural discomfort.
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