Never Be Thirsty Again

Never Be Thirsty Again

*My new monthly series, Women of the Bible, begins today. On the third Tuesday of every month, I will feature a woman in Scripture who found her strength in the Lord when faced with adversity or circumstances that were beyond her control.*

She chose the noon hour on purpose because no one would be there due the heat of the day.  No one would be there to whisper behind her back, to judge her. She was the talk of the town, damaged goods. She was tired, hurt, and just wanted to be loved. Physically, she was thirsty; however, she would learn quickly that she was also spiritually dry.

He was exhausted from His long journey with His disciples. They were heading back to Galilee, and while most Jews skirted around Samaria, they traveled right through it. His reason for stopping at the well wasn’t only to get a drink – it was to meet her.

As she approached Jacob’s well, she saw Him. Jews did not associate with her kind, so why was He there at that moment? What did He want?

He knew all about her life. What she hid in the darkness would soon be brought into the Light. He knew what she desperately wanted, what she needed…

… life.

And not just any life, but

Eternal Life.

The Samaritan Woman

Known in her town as a nobody, the Samaritan woman went through husbands as quickly I go through Chick-Fil-A for a sweet tea. Never satisfied, hoping for love and security, she moved on to the next, only to be met with the same disappointing results.  After being married five times, the man she was living with was far from being a husband. The continuous pattern of different men was wearing on her. She had given up hope, just going through the motions and trying to get by. She was of ill-repute and morally despised by her people.

John 4:5a, “Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well.” I love this verse! It displays our Savior as human. Just like you and me, Jesus was worn out from His journey.

“Give me a drink,” Jesus asked her.

Imagine her surprise when Jesus initiated their conversation first, completely breaking the cultural barrier.

Her response was a bit on the sarcastic side, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan?” (my emphasis).

Expecting to be met with hostility, she was instead met with care and compassion.

Jesus simply replied, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

Living Water

She was intrigued by His statement. “Where do you get living water?” she questioned, as she looked to see if He had a way to draw the water up. He didn’t.

Who was this man? She believed Him to be a prophet, and she would see soon enough that He was more significant than she could have ever imagined.

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” John 4:13-14.

And just like that, Jesus let her know that He was her Savior. Her refuge. Her strength. Her eternal life. Her living water.

She wanted what He was offering.

Jesus had one last question for her. “Go, call your husband, and come here,” He said to her.

“I have no husband,” she replied.

“You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

I can only imagine that she was in complete awe at this time. He knew about her life, the darkness she lived in, and He still cared to speak to her.

Who does that?

Jesus – that’s who!

Her final statement to Him was, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”

“I who speak to you, am he.”

Simple and to the point, but so impactful for all to hear.

Life After Meeting Jesus

The Samaritan woman left her water jar at the well and went straight into town to tell the people that the Messiah was there. She threw off the guilt, shamefulness, hurtfulness, and darkness that had been plaguing her for so many years. She now had all that she needed, all that she ever needed. Living water. Eternal life.

Because of her testimony, many Samaritans became Believers. And Jesus didn’t just pass on through Samaria. He stayed for two days talking with them about the living water that He was to them.

Never Be Thirsty Again

Jesus invites us to take the cup from Him and never be thirsty. What’s holding you back from taking that cup? Pride? shamefulness? Whatever it is, He already knows all about your life, and guess what? He still loves you!  He loves you so much that He took all your pride and shamefulness with Him when He was nailed to cross.

For those of you who have accepted Christ as your Savior, it’s time to be like the Samaritan woman and tell everyone what Christ has done in your life.

Run, don’t walk, to your Savior, and never be thirsty again!