Lord’s Day, Vol. 6 No. 35
Living Water – John 4
Jesus passed through the city of Sychar in Samaria for an appointment with a woman at Jacob’s well. It was midday when Jesus, being wearied from his journey, asked the woman drawing water at the well, “Give me to drink”. The woman was surprised knowing that Jesus was a Jew, for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans (John 6:9). Jesus identified Himself as One that can offer her living water for whosoever drinks of the water that He will give him shall never thirst. Living water is fresh spring water as opposed to stagnant water. Jesus explained this “living water” that He would give her shall be in her a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The woman, of course, requested Jesus for this living water – John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Jesus initiated a process that will open the fountain of living water for her consumption. How did Jesus do that?
He first sought to treat the spiritual ailment in her life. She was seeking for true love and until she met Jesus, has not found it.
John 4:16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
The woman’s reply was that she has no husband. This was not true. For Jesus pointed out to her that she has had five husbands.
John 4:17-18 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
She realized that Jesus was no ordinary man. Jesus could understand her heart’s cry. She sought to find the love and peace of home life through marriage but has been fumbling in this area. By it, it exposed her inadequacy of to run her life and she felt miserable. Jesus is offering her the divine wisdom needed to stabilize her life, a life with God. Inadvertently, she reckoned that it has to do with being connected with the worship of God the Father in heaven.
John 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
The woman understood that finding peace in her life involves the worship of the living and true God. Jesus explained to that the worship of the true God is found in the God of the Jews and how He can be approached. Not in Jerusalem on in the mountain that the Samaritans has made for their worship.
John 4:21-24 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus explained that the worship of the Father in heaven comes through Him, the prophesied Messiah of Israel in the Old Testament scriptures.
John 4:25-26 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
She understood then that the worship of God comes through the Messiah of Israel called the Christ. Jesus affirmed it the truth that He is that Messiah.
What a revelation! Through Jesus, the Source of Living Water, she will find the connection with the Father in heaven and of course with it, the wisdom needed to run her life. Jesus initiated the conversation with the woman to reach out to help her. Jesus “must needs go through Samaria” (John 4:4) that day. It was the God’s appointment that this woman would be saved. Jesus says to the weary soul, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).
This woman found rest for her soul, peace with God, that day when she repented of her sins and received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour – Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
She believed that Jesus is the Christ, only the Saviour of the world and was gloriously saved. She was so happy that she found true love in Jesus Christ. Immediately, she witnessed for others come to Jesus – John 4:28-30 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day. He gives all who trust in Him eternal life –“whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14) Come to Jesus today!
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee