When we talk about cost, we usually are thinking of the monetary costs. We lose sight of the other costs when we’re asked to count the cost. The scripture passages in today’s message are hard to take because they require us to pay much more than money to be a follower of Jesus. We must love Jesus more than we love our families and we are told to pick up our cross and follow Him. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us that we can be look forward to spending eternity with Him.

On His way back to Galilee, Jesus stopped at a small town in Samaria and sat down by the well that Jacob built. Samaritans were considered to be the down and out, the untouchables of the region. It was not normal for Jewish men to speak to women outside of their home so the story of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well is even more amazing. Jesus asked for a drink of water surprising her and she asked how a Jew can ask a Samaritan for a drink. Jesus offered her living water, where she would never thirst again. After revealing her history to her, He revealed to the woman that He was the Messiah.

Nicodemus was a highly respected man a member of the ruling council, a Pharisee. Because of his position on the council, he went to visit Jesus at night, so no one would see him. He acknowledged that Jesus came from God. When Jesus told him anyone wanting to enter heaven had to be “Born Again”, Nicodemus did not understand so Jesus explained and included probably the most quoted bible verse. John 3:16. “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Shortly after Jesus performed his first miracle, Jesus and His family went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he arrived, he found the Jews using the temple as if it were a “Farmers’ Market”. There were sheep and cattle and doves for sale to be used as sacrifice, and also money changers. He drove all the animals from the temple and overturned the money changers tables scattering their money. This angered the Jews who wanted to know on what authority He was a doing this.