Living Water

We pick up a story in John 4 where Jesus was just baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus leaves Judea journeying to Sychar, a city in Samaria. Sychar is famous for Jacob’s well of water. The significance of Jacob’s well is a bit odd being nowhere is it mentioned in the Old Testament. The first mention of Samaria is in 1 Kings. 

Jesus is tired from the walk; in which, He leans against the well. A woman approaches the well, Jesus asks her to give him a drink of water. She says, why I am not Jewish but a Samaritan. You want nothing to do with me.

He answers. if you knew the gift of God and who is asking, you would ask for this living water which he would give. She responds, are you greater than our father Jacob who gave us this well? The same well he, his family and his livestock drank from. 

Jesus tells her everyone who drinks water from this well will be thirsty again. Those who drink the water I give them; they will never thirst but shall be like a well full of water giving them eternal life. She says give me this water. 

Jesus talks about her past, she acknowledges it. Later, she goes to tell other Samaritans all Jesus told her. After following Jesus for a few days. they tell her we believe, not only because of your story, but we heard it for ourselves. Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the World. 

In John 7 Jesus tells us how we get the “Living Water”:

38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

The “Living Water” is the Spirit of God aka the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. The scriptures Jesus was talking about are three verses found in Jeremiah 2:13 and 7:13 and Zachariah 14:8-9. There is One God but in three forms: God, Jesus, and the Spirit of God. Revelation mentions three times about the “Waters of Life” in Heaven in Revelation 21 & 22. 

What does all this mean “Living Water” for you and me? I am the man (woman) at the well, maybe you are too. Jesus told me everything I did, especially at my Baptism when a man lustfully looked at my nakedness only to tell me those are the sins that were washed away (story in my book). 

I was not searching for Jesus to come into my life and from what I can tell neither was this woman. She was just getting some water, which by the way verse 28 says she left her water pot on the ground to tell the others. That is what I did, I left my water pot on the ground to tell others what Christ has done for me. 

Can you imagine what Christian and Non-Christians would say if they saw Jesus speaking to this woman? The disciples thought about it but said nothing to Jesus. She had five former husbands and was shacking with a six who was not even her husband. 

The stones from Christians would be flying, admit it. Don’t believe me, turn to John 8 2-11. A woman was caught in adultery, the religious leaders wanted to stone her because it is in their Law. Jesus writes something on the ground saying to them, he who is without sin cast the first stone. He asked her, does anyone condemn you? She says no. He says neither do I but tells her to leave the life of sin. 

Drinking from the “Living Waters” allows each person to leave the life of sin to a promise of a new life, a new hope, a new joy. One that gives us redemption and forgiveness but also healing and restoration. 

A friend of mine Donnie overcame huge drug addictions in one day thanks to Jesus Christ. He was at the well and is a living witness that God can restore and heal people in one day. My stubbornness took two years. 

Some of you might say, well those people were having marital problems. John 7 says anyone that believes on him can drink from the “Living Waters”.  Some of you will see immediate results while others may need Doctors and Mental Health counselors to get over the stronghold(s) in your life like addictions, depression, trauma, anxiety, physical, mental, spiritual, relationships, lust, PTSD, fear, anger, etc. 

Imagine five failed marriages and the man you are with will be no different. How embarrassing and painful it probably was for her? Yes, she met Him at the well. My life was painful, Donnie’s life was painful.  

Where are you in your "Walk to God"? Maybe you haven't even started, just starting or maybe you have a friend you can pass this blog on to. Jesus makes it very clear; it is between you and Him. Ask Jesus to give you His "Living Water". I did, my friend Donnie did, the woman did, and so can you.