The woman at the well is the complete opposite of Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a Pharisee, an insider. He comes with all the knowledge and privilege that anyone could hope to have before God. He comes at night when understanding and sight are hindered and evil still rules.
The woman at the well is the outsider amongst outsiders, she is a Samaritan, a woman and outcast from them. She comes at high noon when everything is revealed and easily seen. Jesus offers her living water.
The woman also begins by thinking in earthly terms. How can you get this water, the well is deep? Give me this water so that I don’t have to come to the well again. After a few questions about family and worship she asks about the messiah. Jesus answers simple I Am. This is the name for God that Moses received at the burning bush. Jesus simply states “I am” and she gets it.
Nicodemus leaves Jesus confused and remains silent. The women at the well runs and tells everybody that she thinks she has found the long awaited messiah. She uses the same invitation that Jesus uses early to call his disciples, “come and see.”
Why this woman gets it and Nicodemus does not is a mystery. Nicodemus is the person we all want as a new member of the church. The woman at the well we would not rate as a likely candidate for church council. Yet it is the woman who responds. Maybe the message is, tell everyone about Jesus and we might be surprised at who responds.