"The WATER of Life "

 

John 4:1-15 "When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that JESUS made and baptized more disciples than John, (though JESUS HIMSELF baptized not, but HIS disciples.) HE left Judah, and departed again into Galilee. And HE must needs go through Samaria. Then cometh HE to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Now Jacob's well was there, JESUS therefore, being wearied with HIS journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: JESUS saith unto her, Give ME to drink. (For HIS disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto HIM, How is it that THOU, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria ?  for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. JESUS answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of GOD, and WHO it is that saith to thee, Give ME to drink; thou wouldest have asked of HIM, and HE would have given thee LIVING WATER.

The woman saith unto HIM, Sir, THOU hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast THOU that LIVING WATER ? Art THOU greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle ? JESUS answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but 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. The woman saith unto HIM, Sir, give me this WATER, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw."

     The woman in today's text would not have known of the WATER of Life unless JESUS CHRIST had spoken to her concerning her need and how she could fulfill it (vv.13-14). We must be ready to witness to those we meet. We cannot always discern from outward appearances -- there might be a thirsty soul who seemingly is content with life but inwardly is longing for that WATER of Life, which alone can bring eternal satisfaction. As we read the rest of this chapter, we find that JESUS' ministry to just one woman resulted in many others believing on HIM (John 4:28-29 pictured above & v.39). Those who have experienced the satisfaction of the WATER of Life should desire to share it with other thirsty souls. How selfish we are if we fail to give the Gospel when the LORD provides us with an open door to guide the "one that thirsteth" unto HIM (Isaiah 55:1 pictured below).

     The LORD JESUS was physically exhausted from HIS travels (v.6), and HE easily could have used HIS weariness as an excuse for not speaking to this woman. But notice that when HIS disciples returned from their journey to the city to buy food, they discovered CHRIST was already refreshed and thought perhaps someone had given HIM something to eat (John 4:31-34). JESUS explained to them a valuable truth that is important for every believer today to understand: True satisfaction (both physical and spiritual) results from doing the work of the LORD. In fact, this gratification defies natural explanation.

     CHRIST our SAVIOR is the WATER of Life. Many thirsty souls surround us every day, though most of them try to appear self-satisfied and unconcerned. May we fervently entreat others to come to JESUS and "take the WATER of Life freely" (Revelation 22:17 pictured above). MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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