John 3:1-21; 4:1-42; 4:43-54; 5:1-15; 9:1-34; 11:1-44

John uses two contrasting examples of a person’s standing in community to make a point. The first is Nicodemus (chapter 3), a member of the social elite of the time, the Sanhedrin, and a respected teacher. He came to Jesus under the cover of darkness so that his own people wouldn’t know that he had spend time with Jesus. The second is a Samaritan woman (chapter 4) who Jesus meets in a place of loneliness, rejection and isolation. Both learnt that they were included in God’s love for the world (3:16). It was the same for those who Jesus healed, many of whom were rejected by society or thought to be beyond hope. We are included by Jesus and able to know His healing. Our healing might be something physical, emotional or spiritual – nothing is bad enough for Jesus to reject us!