"Jesus answered and said unto 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.”
John 4 begins by telling us that Jesus “must needs go through Samaria.” Why did He need to go through Samaria? Jews and Samaritans hated each other, and when Jews traveled from Judea to Galilee they went around Samaria to avoid making contact with them. The ensuing verses tell us why Jesus had to go through Samaria. He had a divine appointment at Jacob’s well with a sinful woman and with a village full of Samaritans who needed the Messiah. Jesus made the woman a promise in John 4:13-14 that seems impossible to fulfill. But the thirst that the woman had, and the thirst that all human beings have goes beyond physical thirst. Jesus promises “a fountain of living water” that will satisfy the thirst of the longing in our souls, which transcends our need for physical water. It is a thirst for something, or someone, greater than ourselves. The woman’s real thirst was a thirst for God. The human soul longs for God. Many do not realize that their dissatisfaction with life is a thirst for God. Martin Buber wrote that there is a “God-shaped vacuum” in every person in the world. People will worship something, even if they have to worship science. Jesus alone can fulfill that great need that we have for God. Jesus alone can furnish that “fountain of water” that will satisfy our longing for one greater than ourselves. It is a thirst for a life that transcends this life. Jesus told the sinful woman He would give her a fountain of water that would be “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” There is not only a thirst for someone beyond ourselves, there is a thirst for something beyond this life. Paul said it eloquently in 1 Corinthians 15:19: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” He wrote that in favor of the resurrection not only of Jesus but in favor of our resurrection as well. There is something missing in life on this earth that makes us aware that there must be something beyond this earthly life, something better and more fulfilling. I pity the people who think that we die, and just like our pet dog or cat, that is the end. We know that there is more to life than this physical life that we now live. Jesus alone can fulfill that need that we have for life beyond this one. It is a thirst for a spiritual relationship that is greater than all of our physical relationships. The fact is that we need a relationship with God. We need to know that He not only exists but that He loves us and wants to be part of our lives. The Bible is filled with God's invitation to satisfy our thirst for such a relationship by entering into relationship with Him. Long before Jesus came into the world, Isaiah wrote about this thirst in Isaiah 49:8-10: “Thus saith the Lord, ‘In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee as a covenant of the people to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.’ 9. That thou mayest say to the prisoners, ‘go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in high places.’ 10. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them.” Jesus might have had this passage in mind when He promised the woman at the well, “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” If you haven’t taken a sip of this “everlasting water” do it now.” Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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September 2021
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