“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’ The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw’” (John 4:13-14, NKJV).
While Jesus waits at Jacob’s well for a drink, he encounters a woman worn out by life. She is burdened by the cares and chores of normal life and broken in her soul by her poor choices. Getting water for her family is a chore of necessity and effort she does over and over again. Compounding the difficulty is that she lives as an outcast and must come to the well at the hottest time of the day, lest she endure taunting and ridicule. Still, she must perform this task and tread this tedious journey for water to live. Yet, this water from this ancient well will never free her from shame or satisfy her deepest needs.
Jesus offers her water that she cannot understand but deeply needs. Jesus shows His divinity in his knowledge about everything about her and He shows His humanity as He sees her as a woman in needing the water that only He can give. He takes time for her amidst the prejudices that do not allow a man to talk to a woman alone. He offers forgiveness to free her from her shame. He offers her His Living Water that would flow up in her and bring her new and everlasting life.
Jesus knows more about each of us than any of us can realize. He takes time to see us, to talk to us, and to love us, no matter who we are. He offers us an everlasting supply of “Living Water” available by drinking from His words, His life, and His presence. We do not have to travel far, nor toil in our own efforts, but simply drink the water he freely gives. We only have to accept Him as the giver of the Living Water and drink deeply from Him to find true satisfaction. His water does not come from a well, nor is it water you can purchase in any store but it is the only water that is living and everlasting. What water are you drinking?
