Jesus leaves Judea journeys to Galilee and in doing so travels through Samaria. The disciples, leaving a “weary” Jesus beside Jacob’s well, go onto Sychar for provisions. A woman of Samaria had come to get water, about noon, and he initiates a conversation with her. Jesus tells her that she could receive “living water” from Him. Jesus proceeds to tell her that she has had five husbands and the man she is now with is not a husband. Shocked, the woman grasps that she is talking with a prophet.

John the Apostle now writes of the ministry of John the Baptist. John continued to baptize, and Jesus began baptizing as well. (Jesus did not baptize, only His disciples. See John 4:2) Over time those following Jesus outnumbered those following John. Envy thus arose among John’s followers, and the Baptist responded by saying Jesus must increase while he himself must decrease.

The most memorized verse in the Bible is John 3:16. These words of Jesus express the why God sent His Son into the world. Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, yet we loved darkness rather than the light, because our deeds are evil, and we fear exposure.

The most famous quote in the New Testament (Greek Bible) is, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Pastor Kent preaches verse by verse through this passage and gives new insight.

What actually happened on the first Pentecost in Jerusalem 40 days after Jesus ascended to heaven? Kent Philpott gives a very credible explanation.

An esteemed Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin comes to Jesus by night. Nicodemus, who will one day become a follower of Jesus, speaks well of Him. Jesus states that to enter the kingdom of God one has to be born from above. Nicodemus is dumbfounded and either sarcastically or sincerely declares such is impossible. However religious one is, it is no avail in terms of seeing the kingdom of God. Nicodemus, and all people, are utterly dependent upon the saving work of the Holy Spirit.

At Passover every male is to make a sacrifice and pay the temple tax. Hundreds of thousands descend upon Jerusalem to do this. For a fee, agents change travelers’ money into the proper currency. Animals for sacrifices have been moved into the Court of the Gentiles. A noisy, stinky den of robbers awaits all who desire to obey the Law. Jesus disrupts the entire proceedings. Jesus will not entrust himself to those in charge; he knows what is inside of human beings—inner corruption and pollution.

Jesus’ first sign occurs at a wedding in a town near Nazareth. Jesus’ family, mother Mary, and his disciples are part of the wedding party. The wine runs out, and Mary informs her son Jesus. After an unusual exchange between them, a miracle occurs. Jesus directs that stone jars be filled to the brim with water. New water from the same source is discovered to be very good wine, perhaps signaling that the Jewish rites of purification are ending, and something new is come.

Two men who are with John the Baptist hear John point out the Lamb of God as Jesus walks by. These two men, Andrew and an unnamed one (John the Gospel writer?) spend time with Jesus and acknowledge that this Jesus is the promised Messiah. Andrew then finds his brother Peter and tells him about Jesus.Then Jesus calls Philip to be His disciple who then testifies to Nathanael (this is likely Bartholomew of the Synoptic Gospels) who tells him he has found the Messiah.

John the Baptist, coming in the spirit and power of Elijah, prepares the way for the arrival of the Lamb of God, the sacrifice for sin. John is not the Christ, nor Elijah of Malachi 4:5, nor the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:5 in answer to those Jewish leaders sent to get answers. But John points to another one who is presently among them but whom they do not know. John knows Him for he saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him. This one does not baptize in water but in the Holy Spirit and fire.