Water for a Thirsting Soul
John 4
Think of a time that you were truly parched and on the brink of dehydration. What were your symptoms? You probably had: a dry mouth, headaches, confusion, dizziness, or even sunken eyes. If you are like me, as you read something like this, your brain is even now reminding you to drink more water!
In times of old, water was precious because of the difficulty in acquiring and storing it. In towns and cities where streams were scarce, people had to resort to carrying vessels great distances to access well water. This chore was a vital part of the daily lives of most people (usually the women of the house).
Think of how special this object lesson would become to the woman in John 4 when Jesus intentionally used Jacob’s well to reveal the living water of salvation to her. At first, the woman thought that Jesus offered some sort of special water that would make her life easier and address her present circumstances. In love, Jesus, as He often did, went much deeper. He offered her water for her dry and barren soul. The woman was skeptical. No doubt, she had experienced a pattern of failed relationships, immoral and empty living, and disappointment after disappointment in her life.
Jesus said something profound to the woman. In essence, He said, “Woman, I’m not offering you simply a drink from a well…I offer you the well itself—the source of all life and power and satisfaction for your soul.” As Jesus pulled back the veil for this woman, her soul began experiencing something she had forgotten existed; peace — peace like sheep experience when led gently to still waters by a loving Shepherd. Like a cool drink of water, all the years of depression, discouragement, disappointment, and doubt began to wash away as she discovered the true purpose of her existence, to know Jesus.
Maybe as you read this, you identify with that woman, and like King David, your soul thirsts, and longs for God’s presence in the midst of a dry and thirsty land, where there is no satisfaction to be found. May I encourage you? Get alone with the Savior. Picture Him sitting on that well in a little town in Samaria, waiting on you to crest the hill and head in His direction as He motions for you to sit next to Him. Maybe with a smile and an understanding tone, He would say something like, “May I offer you something to drink?”