Jesus Christ - Living Waters that Quench Spiritual Thirst

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Today’s Reading:

John 4:1-15 (13-14)

"Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water Will thirst again, 14) but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in Him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (vv. 13-14 NKJV)

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Samaria was in the northern part of Jerusalem, between Judea and Galilee. The Samaritans descended from the union between those of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh who survived the destruction of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians in 722 BC and the Gentile nations around. They practise the Jewish religion and the idolatry of the Gentile nations they intermarried. They adopted only the first five books of the Pentateuch as their Scriptures, and also awaits the Messiah. They were referred to as the mixed race and were traditional enemies of Israel, the ‘blue blooded’ Jews.

Ordinarily, living water is a fresh, flowing water from a stream or spring. Jesus tired from his journey, and his disciples had gone to town to get food, sat resting by the well of Jacob. Jesus initiated discussion with a Samaritan woman who came to fetch water from the well, by asking her for water to drink. Jesus used this opportunity to introduce the free gift of grace of God through the Holy Spirit, which leads to eternal life to her. He offered her the living waters which will overflow within her.

The Samaritan woman like Zacchaeus on the Sycamore tree met with destiny that day and she was saved and all in her community. Three things stand out against this woman: 1) she was a member of the hated mixed race; 2) she was living in sin; 3) where they were was in a public place. No Jewish man would like to be seen with such woman in public. Jesus cross the social barrier to share the Good News with this woman. Race, social status, or past sin must not be a barrier to our sharing the Good News to people. She was not supposed to be by the well at such hot time of the day. But because she had a date with destiny, and she was a woman of bad reputation trying to avoid other women who would probably shun her, she went, and met with Jesus.

A clean source of water physically and spiritually is good and able to change life. A fresh, bubbling spring water was needed in the dry climate of Israel, and with the spring of living waters, those who come to God will neither hunger nor thirst again (Isa. 49:10; 55:1-3; Jer. 2:13). No wonder the psalmist in Psalm 42:1 says that his soul longs for the living God as the deer longs for the spring water. The deer has a stench that give it away to the bigger animals as prey, and it is only the spring water that can douse the stench. In the same manner our souls depend on God for our sustenance and for protection from danger, and the works of darkness.

As the Messiah, Jesus Christ is the only one who can quench our inner longing, thirst for God. When we surrender our lives to Him, he gives us the Holy Spirit who will give us eternal life. Have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ? Do so now as tomorrow may be too late.

Olufunmilayo Titilola Adekusibe

Prayer:

1. Father thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer who is able to quench our spiritual thirst, in Jesus name.

2. Father, keep me and my family secured under the shadow of your throne, in Jesus name

3. Every stronghold of evil thought and imagination against my life, be demolished and break to irreparable pieces, in Jesus name.

4. Revive your work Oh Lord in Your Church, in Jesus name

5. Every stronghold of wickedness in the nations, be demolished and crushed to pieces, in Jesus name.