In today's reading, Jesus comes into contact with someone that is the ultimate outsider. In chapter 3 we met Nicodemus who was the ultimate insider and he did not understand the new birth. In John 4 the Samaritan woman, the outsider, understands the mission of Jesus and is transformed by her encounter. Jesus comes to give 'living water' which is the Holy Spirit. 

In our, Psalm David praises God for His character and deeds. God is the righteous judge that will one day set the nations right and punish the wicked. 

In our passage today Ezekiel tells us about God's plan to cleanse us with water and give us a new heart. The way God will change our hearts is through the Holy Spirit. 

In today's reading, we find the greatest example of how we should relate to Jesus. John the Baptist tells us that Jesus must take first place in our lives. John says, "He must increase and I must decrease." 

Jesus continues his conversation with Nicodemus in our reading today. Nicodemus does not understand that we must be born of above or born again to be saved. John informs us that God's greatest gift is the sending of His Son that we may be saved. 

Nicodemus was a teacher of the Jews and he came to Jesus in the cover darkness. He had a very surface-level belief in Jesus. Jesus challenges him and all of us by telling Nicodemus that we must be born from above. Many people call this being 'born again.' God doesn't need to do a reformation project on our lives but He calls us to a new form of existence with supernatural life from above. 

David comes to God with his petition in the morning. He has offered a sacrifice at God's house and now brings his prayer and anxiously awaits for God's response. 

Isaiah paints a picture of a future time when God will invite His people to a grand feast of good food and wine. While we feast with God He devours death so that we may have eternal life. On that day the specter of death will be destroyed and we will live forever with Him. 

In our reading today from John's Gospel we are reminded that simply believing in Jesus is not enough. Jesus calls us to a deep trusting faith that will follow Him. Jesus wants us to surrender our lives to Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. 

In today's reading, Jesus comes to the Temple and does not like what He sees. People have turned the court of the Gentiles into a house of merchandise instead of a house of prayer. Jesus violently drives the moneychangers and animals from the Temple. Jesus reminds us that He is the true temple of God because he is God with us.