Living Water. Part 1

"If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”   John 4:10   1-28

Because of pressure from the Pharisees, Jesus decides to go to Galilee. He goes through Samaria to reach there for two reasons. (1) geographically to save miles of walking (2) because He knows He needs to speak with this Samaritan woman. 

At the sixth hour (12 noon) with the sun burning down on Him, He stops at Jacob's Well, the well Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. Shortly afterwards, the Samaritan woman, He had determined to meet, turned up at the well to draw water. Now the disciples had gone in search of food and drink and, Jesus being thirsty asked the woman for a drink. Rather suspicious that He was speaking to her - an outcast, He notices this and Jesus gets her full attention by speaking about 'Living water'.

'If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink." you would have asked Him. and He would have given you Living water.' v10 

He later says to her:

'Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,' v13 'but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.'

Jesus presents Living water as a great illustration of regeneration into everlasting life. 

Straightaway, the woman asks for this Living water so that she doesn't have to keep coming out to the well. At this time, she has not grasped what Jesus is saying to her. Jesus tests her credibility by asking her to go and call her husband and bring him there as well. The woman is truthful and says that she has no husband. Jesus is pleased with her answer and tells her that He knows she has had 5 husbands and the man with her now is not her husband. She understands that He is a prophet and then starts opening up about how the Jewish people worship at the temple in Jerusalem, but Samaritans are not allowed. They have to worship up on the mountain (Mt Gerizim) where they have built a rival temple.

Jesus speaks to her about a time that is coming when worship will takes place, not on the mountain nor in Jerusalem, but in spirit and in truth. She tells Him that she knows that the Messiah is coming and He will tell them all things. Jesus tells her, 'I who speak to you am He.' v26.

Here, Jesus is introducing the woman to the fact that she has a spiritual thirst which needs to be satisfied. He can satisfy this. He has also shown her who He is and that He carries no racial prejudice and that she is welcome. In fact, He shows her His heart. and draws her to Himself.

Jesus has also gained your attention, He has drawn you to Him like water from the well. He has asked you to give Him a drink and you have, Now, He is leading to a deeper level of worship - in spirit and truth. Notice how, He has never looked down on you. Others may feel that you don't fit in with their life style. Don't worry, you fit in with Jesus and, that is all that matters. You are accepted.

See the second half tomorrow

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

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