The River of Life Comes to Samaria

The River of Life Comes to Samaria

John 4:3-30

 

He who believes in the Son has eternal life [has it here and now and for eternity].      John 3:36 ATR

 

Late in the day, a woman goes to draw water in her town and she sees a man resting by the well. It is unusual to see anyone by the well at this time of day, for all the other women had come earlier to fill their water pots and socialize.  She avoided those women, knowing that they would not tarnish their reputations by even speaking to her – for she had been married five times and now lived with a man who was not her husband. Yet this Jewish man, began speaking to her.

 

He asked her for a drink – How odd! He didn't look down on her like the others, instead, He asked for her help. Then He spoke of living water – water bubbling up to permanently quench her thirst.  She wanted to avoid the well and the daily reminder of her humiliation, so she asked for this water. He began talking to her about her sinful life – but not in a way that made her feel low and rejected  – instead, she was drawn to Him, even as He exposed her sin.  She felt at ease in His presence, so she questioned Him about the proper place to worship.

 

This man told her that true worshipers will no longer worship the Father in a place, they will worship a Person. He said, I who speak to you am He. Living Water is a Person! A Person who would flood the dark wilderness of her heart with life – life here and now and for all eternity! She abandoned the task of drawing water for herself as she ran off to tell the townspeople that she had met the Savior.

 

Jesus had gone to the well to wait for the woman. He won her confidence at the same moment He exposed her sin – not to others – but to her own heart. He came into the world to meet with sinners; not to bludgeon them with their weakness and failure, but to win them with the promise of eternal life.

 

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. John 1:16